Comment by bbrooke on bridgeplan - a writeup on things one can actually do to increase lifespan · 2011-08-12T17:41:30.271Z · LW · GW

Thanks for your comments about The Bridge Plan.

"The things he says might be true, but without arguments or citations or any introduction by you, how would I know? The prior probability that any specific action increases lifespan usefully is quite low, so I need strong evidence to read anyone's advice."

There are 120 citations for the recommendations (http://www.bridgeplan.org/?p=458), but I agree that it would be ideal to have data that enables us to look at each recommendation separately. That is part of the reason for the recent site update including a ranking system that includes factors such as Life Expectancy Benefit, Maximum Lifespan Benefit, Convenience, Affordability, and Scientific Rigor. An added benefit is that readers can see profiled the "Top Interventions", which folks like jsalvatier could readily use to identify only those interventions that are most likely to enhance life-expectancy or maximum lifespan.

"...these recommendations would help people living an unhealthy lifestyle, sure, but not as much as, say, caloric restriction currently would seem to."

Extreme caloric restriction is actually listed on the site as an Emerging Intervention (http://www.bridgeplan.org/?p=1025), though not part of Dr. Coles's Bridge Plan. He doesn't deny its likely benefits, but doesn't follow it personally because of it being "tedious and onerous" (i.e. very low on the Convenience ranking).

BTW - A good read on the cessation of aging (and much else) is Chapter 6 of The Future of Aging by Dr. Greg Fahy. Here's a review of the book: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2011/sep2011_The-Future-of-Aging-Blueprint-for-a-Longer-Life_01.htm