In this episode, Matt reviews two mouse lifespan studies: one on inhibiting IL-11 signalling and another combining trametinib and rapamycin treatments. He explains the role of IL-11 in inflammation, trametinib’s cancer-fighting properties, and references rapamycin from previous discussions. Matt also outlines the "900-day rule" for evaluating such studies and offers his perspective on whether these findings are significant breakthroughs in geroscience or relevant for human use.

Key Points:

Matt reviews two recent mouse lifespan studies on IL-11 inhibition and the combination of trametinib and rapamycin. He introduces the "900-day rule" for evaluating study robustness and advises caution on applying these findings to humans.

• Overview of Two Lifespan Studies: Matt discusses two recent mouse lifespan studies—one on IL-11 signalling inhibition and the other on the combination of trametinib and rapamycin treatments.
• The 900-Day Rule: He introduces the "900-day rule," a guideline to assess the robustness of mouse lifespan studies by comparing control and treated groups' median lifespans.
• IL-11 Inhibition Study: The first study shows IL-11 inhibition significantly extending mouse lifespan. Matt explains how the results fit within the context of ageing research, comparing it to established treatments like rapamycin.
• Trametinib and Rapamycin Combination: The second study examines whether combining trametinib and rapamycin outperforms either treatment alone, with Matt expressing skepticism about the additive benefits.
• Caution on Premature Use: Matt cautions against premature use of these treatments in humans, emphasizing the need for more research and warning against unproven supplements claiming similar effects.