....And That is the Reason That My Skin is Blue

It isn't easy to live longer than a century. A human being requires some help to avoid cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and other maladies that cut a life short of its useful span. Methylene Blue, a simple heterocyclic aromatic, can be of some benefit in that regard.

A new study conducted by researchers at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland shows that a century-old drug, methylene blue, may be able to slow or even cure Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Used at a very low concentration – about the equivalent of a few raindrops in four Olympic-sized swimming pools of water – the drug slows cellular aging and enhances mitochondrial function, potentially allowing those with the diseases to live longer, healthier lives.

A paper on the methylene blue study, conducted by Hani Atamna, PhD, and a his team at Children's, was published in the March 2008 issue of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal. Dr. Atamna's research found that methylene blue can prevent or slow the decline of mitochondrial function, specifically an important enzyme called complex IV. Because mitochondria are the principal suppliers of energy to all animal and human cells, their healthy function is critical. _SD

First the urine turns blue, then the lymph, and finally the skin. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but growing old must be more bitter still.