Gene Therapy and Biological Age of Liz Parrish

Elizabeth (Liz) Parrish, the founder and CEO of BioViva, has gained recognition for her experiments in gene therapy aimed at rejuvenation. Liz was born in 1971 – this information is crucial for evaluating her achievements (although I couldn’t find her exact birth date, it’s not essential in this case).

The above image sourced from a screenshot of EP #01: Liz Parrish on gene therapies for general ageing – What, how and how much by BuyingTime Podcast at 0:03.

According to my study, based on Liz’s photos, her biological age was 33.5 years in 2022. Given Liz’s actual age of 51, her rejuvenation amounted to 17.5 years – this result is even higher than the rejuvenation flagship David Sinclair and only falls behind Sadhguru.

Another notable figure associated with BioViva is Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a biomedical gerontologist based in Cambridge, UK, and Mountain View, California, USA. He is the Chief Science Officer of SENS Research Foundation, a California-based charity dedicated to combating the aging process. Dr. de Grey is known for his work in the field of gerontology and his efforts to understand and combat the aging process. According to the study I conducted, Dr. de Grey’s biological age is 12 years less than his chronological age.

Parrish’s Experiments

In 2015, Parrish underwent an unproven gene therapy in Colombia, motivated by her son’s battle with Type 1 diabetes and the inability to receive treatment in the U.S. The therapy consisted of two intravenous injections. Before the treatment, Parrish’s biological age was 66 years, which is 22 years more than her chronological age. After the treatment, her biological age allegedly dropped to match her actual age.

Parrish repeated the treatment in 2020 and claims that her biological age has been decreasing by an average of five years each year since 2015. I haven’t verified this claim yet, but it may have some basis.

The therapy that Liz Parrish underwent included two types of gene therapy aimed at life extension and rejuvenation:

1. Telomerase Therapy

The telomerase therapy that Liz Parrish underwent is based on the idea of lengthening telomeres – the end portions of chromosomes in our cells. Telomeres play a crucial role in protecting genetic information and usually shorten with each cell division. When telomeres become too short, cells enter a state of aging or apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Telomerase is an enzyme that can lengthen telomeres, restoring their length after cell division. However, in most adult cells, telomerase activity is low or absent, leading to the gradual shortening of telomeres and cell aging.

During Parrish’s therapy, a gene encoding telomerase was introduced into her cells using a viral vector. Theoretically, this should have led to an increase in telomerase activity in the cells, lengthening of the telomeres, and possibly slowing down the aging process.

2. Myostatin Therapy

Myostatin is a protein that naturally regulates muscle tissue growth, preventing excessive muscle mass increase. The idea of blocking myostatin to enhance muscle mass and strength is based on observations of animals and humans with a natural mutation in the myostatin gene, who have increased muscle mass.

As part of the therapy that Liz Parrish underwent, a viral vector was used to introduce the follistatin (FST) gene into her cells. Follistatin is a protein that binds and inhibits myostatin, blocking its ability to prevent muscle tissue growth.

After undergoing the therapy, Parrish reported that she noticed an increase in muscle mass and strength, as well as an improvement in overall health. However, there are concerns that blocking myostatin may have side effects, including a potential increase in the risk of cancer. Myostatin may play a role in regulating cell division, and its blockage could potentially lead to excessive cell growth.

Both therapies were introduced into Parrish’s body through intravenous injections.

Parrish continues to work on the development and application of gene therapy for rejuvenation. She is optimistic about the future of healthcare but also expresses concerns about a possible health divide, where people who can afford to pay for treatment and travel will have significantly better health outcomes than those who cannot. However, she believes that if governments rise to the challenge, people can enjoy healthier aging and extended life over the next few decades.

So, what can we apply based on Parrish’s experiences?

At present, there are no myostatin blockers approved for use in humans. Although some drugs, such as MYO-029 (Stamulumab), ACE-031, and modified myostatin propeptides, have been investigated, they either did not show statistically significant improvement in strength or muscle growth, or were associated with side effects, leading to the cessation of their development.

However, Integrated Health Systems offers a follistatin gene therapy, a myostatin inhibitor, which may require only one or two injections in a lifetime.

To become a client of Integrated Health Systems, one needs to apply, schedule a consultation with a doctor, and apply for treatment. The cost of Integrated Health Systems services is not listed on the website.

What does the online community say?

Reddit users have mixed opinions about Liz Parrish and her therapies. Some express skepticism about the validity of her claims and the science behind BioViva, pointing to a lack of peer-reviewed scientific evidence and concerns about potentially misleading marketing. However, others admire her bravery in being “patient zero” and appreciate her efforts to advance the field of anti-aging therapies. On YouTube, comments are quite diverse. Some viewers also express admiration for Parrish’s bravery and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of science. Others are more skeptical, challenging the effectiveness and safety of the treatments she has undergone.

In the above interview, she discusses her personal health and longevity strategies, as well as her views on the future of gene therapy.

Liz Parrish begins by discussing her approach to a healthy lifestyle. She talks about her decision to increase protein intake and reduce sugar consumption, which led to weight loss and increased muscle mass. She also emphasizes the importance of moderate physical activity and recommends working different muscle groups each day.

In the context of dietary supplements, Liz mentions taking vitamin B12 and melatonin, as well as omega-3 fatty acids. She emphasizes that everyone should discuss their dietary supplement needs with a doctor, as some vitamins can be toxic when consumed excessively.

Liz also mentions her interest in hormone replacement therapy, which she plans to explore in the coming years. She learned about the potential benefits of this therapy at a recent conference and believes that optimizing all aspects of health is important.

At the end of the interview, Liz talks about her admiration for the work of Professor George Church, a geneticist from Harvard University. She notes that he is not afraid of risk and understands that technology needs to be used for the benefit of humanity.

Overall, Liz Parrish advocates for the active use of gene therapy and other technologies to extend life and improve health. She emphasizes that everyone should discuss their health strategies with a doctor and monitor their nutrient needs.

The video above, titled “Liz Parrish on gene therapies for general ageing – What, how and how much” is an interview with Liz Parrish where she discusses her gene therapy and its outcomes. Here are some key points from the video:

Side effects and safety of gene therapy: Liz discusses that the side effects from the gene therapy she underwent were minimal and temporary. She also emphasizes that gene therapy uses what nature is already doing, introducing healthy genes into cells that regulate proteins associated with better cellular outcomes.

Cost of gene therapy: Liz mentions that gene therapy is currently considered the most expensive medicine on the planet. The cost of regulated gene therapy in the US starts at $425,000. However, she emphasizes that they aim to make the therapy accessible to all, and it will likely cost over $100,000.

Therapy results: Liz mentions that after undergoing the therapy, she noticed improvements in her physical condition, including increased muscle mass, improved vision, and decreased biological age.

Potential of gene therapy: Liz discusses the potential of gene therapy in treating various diseases and improving health. She mentions stories of children who are now leading active and healthy lives after undergoing gene therapy.

Telomeres and aging: Liz discusses the connection between short telomeres and cancer, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. She mentions that short telomeres in the brain have been found in people suffering from these diseases.

In general, it’s currently unclear what specific insights we can glean from Liz’s experience, but I will be closely tracking her biological age. I’m confident that in the next couple of years, we will be able to see how promising and accessible her path to rejuvenation is.