# Longevity Hacker News

Every longevity claim gets receipts.

Canonical site: https://longevityhackernews.com

Purpose:
Longevity Hacker News is an AI-assisted educational publication and claim layer that checks longevity, peptide, gene therapy, NAD, biological age, senolytic and biohacking claims against source material.

AI disclosure:
AI assists with summarization, classification and drafting. High-risk health content is flagged for human review. The site is not a medical consultation service.

Medical boundary:
Do not use this site as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, dosing, sourcing or emergency guidance. Consult qualified professionals before making health decisions.

Site surfaces:
- Article pages: background explainers and source-aware briefings.
- Claim-check pages: direct verdicts, evidence certainty, risk labels, regulatory status, money trail, source cards, what-not-to-assume and clinician questions.
- Entity pages: compounds, tests, mechanisms, regulators and interventions.
- Regulatory trackers and calendar: FDA and trial-status watchpoints.
- No dosing, protocol, sourcing, vendor, self-administration or personalized medical advice.
- High-risk content is flagged for human review.

Source standards:
Priority sources include FDA, NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, peer-reviewed journals and primary company releases. News, commercial and social sources are labeled with lower evidence confidence.

Source coverage:
The source directory currently maps 266 tracked sources, including 35 official/registry/reference sources, 220 journal monitors and 8 news or market-signal sources.

Core topics:
- [Peptides](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/peptides): BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c, GHK-Cu, Semax, Epitalon, CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin and the messy line between approved medicine, compounding and research chemicals.
- [Longevity Drugs](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/longevity-drugs): Rapamycin, metformin, acarbose, GLP-1s, SGLT2 inhibitors and other drugs discussed as geroprotectors.
- [NAD, Supplements & Mitochondria](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/nad-supplements-mitochondria): NMN, NR, NAD IV, urolithin A, taurine, creatine, CoQ10, spermidine, resveratrol, berberine and mitochondrial health claims.
- [Gene Therapy & Reprogramming](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/gene-therapy-reprogramming): CRISPR, FDA-approved gene therapies, partial epigenetic reprogramming, OSK factors, ER-100, telomerase and the frontier of cellular rejuvenation.
- [Biological Age & Biomarkers](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/biological-age-biomarkers): Epigenetic clocks, biological age tests, VO2 max, DEXA, CGM, ApoB, Lp(a), HRV, blood panels and quantified-self measurement.
- [Senolytics & Cellular Aging](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/senolytics-cellular-aging): Senescent cells, senolytics, fisetin, quercetin, dasatinib, inflammation, immune aging and the hallmarks of aging.
- [Performance, Recovery & Lifestyle](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/performance-recovery-lifestyle): Exercise, sleep, sauna, cold exposure, fasting, protein, strength training, zone 2, VO2 max and recovery basics.
- [Regulation, Safety & Clinics](https://longevityhackernews.com/topics/regulation-safety-clinics): FDA status, compounding, off-label use, supplement claims, longevity clinics, med spas, advertising claims, source quality and patient safety.

Known entities:
BPC-157, TB-500, rapamycin, metformin, NAD, NMN, NR, senescence, epigenetic clock, OSK, CRISPR, gene therapy, ClinicalTrials.gov, FDA

Articles:
- [Is BPC-157 FDA-approved?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/is-bpc-157-fda-approved): No. BPC-157 should be treated as unapproved for longevity, recovery or injury-healing claims unless a current official FDA record says otherwise for a specific product and use. Evidence: REGULATORY_SIGNAL. Risk: DO_NOT_SELF_ADMINISTER. Regulatory status: RESEARCH_CHEMICAL.
- [Does BPC-157 heal injuries in humans?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/does-bpc-157-heal-injuries-in-humans): There is not enough reliable human evidence to say BPC-157 heals injuries. Most confident claims outrun the public evidence base. Evidence: ANIMAL_PRECLINICAL. Risk: HIGH. Regulatory status: RESEARCH_CHEMICAL.
- [What is TB-500 and how is it different from thymosin beta-4?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/tb-500-vs-thymosin-beta-4): TB-500 is commonly described as a fragment or derivative associated with thymosin beta-4 claims. That does not make commercial TB-500 products equivalent to approved medicine or proven human recovery tools. Evidence: MECHANISM_ONLY. Risk: DO_NOT_SELF_ADMINISTER. Regulatory status: RESEARCH_CHEMICAL.
- [Are compounded peptides FDA-approved?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/are-compounded-peptides-fda-approved): No. A compounded peptide is not FDA-approved merely because it was compounded. The relevant questions are whether compounding is legally appropriate, whether the substance is permitted and whether the clinical use is justified. Evidence: REGULATORY_SIGNAL. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: COMPOUNDED_NOT_FDA_APPROVED.
- [What the FDA peptide review could change in 2026.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/fda-peptide-review-could-change-2026): FDA peptide review activity can change compounding status, enforcement priorities and clinic behavior. It does not by itself prove that a peptide works for longevity or recovery. Evidence: REGULATORY_SIGNAL. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [Research peptides: why purity, identity and sterility matter.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/research-peptides-purity-identity-sterility): Research-peptide claims have a first-order problem: the product may not be identity-confirmed, sterile or appropriate for people. Evidence debates are secondary if the material itself is uncertain. Evidence: COMMERCIAL_CLAIM. Risk: DO_NOT_SELF_ADMINISTER. Regulatory status: RESEARCH_CHEMICAL.
- [Does rapamycin slow aging in humans?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/does-rapamycin-slow-aging-in-humans): Rapamycin has strong biological plausibility and some human studies, but it has not been proven to slow aging in healthy humans in the way popular claims often imply. Evidence: HUMAN_RCT. Risk: HIGH. Regulatory status: OFF_LABEL.
- [What did the PEARL rapamycin trial actually show?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/pearl-rapamycin-trial-what-it-showed): PEARL-style rapamycin evidence should be read as an early human signal set, not proof that rapamycin broadly slows aging in people. Evidence: HUMAN_RCT. Risk: HIGH. Regulatory status: OFF_LABEL.
- [Metformin for longevity: what TAME is trying to answer.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/metformin-longevity-tame): Metformin is approved for diabetes, not as a longevity treatment. TAME is important because it tries to test aging-related outcomes more directly. Evidence: CLINICAL_TRIAL_REGISTERED. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: FDA_APPROVED_FOR_OTHER_USE.
- [What does off-label mean in longevity medicine?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-off-label-means-longevity-medicine): Off-label means an approved drug is being used outside its approved indication, population or condition. It can be medically appropriate, but it does not mean the longevity claim is approved or proven. Evidence: REGULATORY_SIGNAL. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: OFF_LABEL.
- [NMN vs NR: what is the difference?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/nmn-vs-nr-difference): NMN and NR are different NAD-related compounds. Human studies can show changes in NAD-related markers, but that is not the same as proving slower aging. Evidence: HUMAN_RCT. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: SUPPLEMENT.
- [Do NAD supplements slow aging?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/do-nad-supplements-slow-aging): NAD supplements may affect NAD-related markers in some human studies, but they have not shown that they slow aging in a broad, clinically proven way. Evidence: HUMAN_RCT. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: SUPPLEMENT.
- [NAD IV drips: evidence, cost and unanswered questions.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/nad-iv-drips-evidence-cost-questions): NAD IV drips are marketed with energy and anti-aging claims, but the key longevity questions remain unanswered: meaningful outcomes, durability, risks and who benefits. Evidence: COMMERCIAL_CLAIM. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [The longevity stack problem: why combinations are hard to interpret.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/longevity-stack-problem-combinations-hard): Longevity stacks are hard to interpret because combinations confound cause and effect. If sleep, training, diet, supplements and drugs all change, no single result can be credited cleanly. Evidence: UNKNOWN. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [Is age-reversal gene therapy real?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/is-age-reversal-gene-therapy-real): Gene therapy is real, but age-reversal gene therapy for consumers is not established medicine. Treat broad age-reversal claims as investigational unless tied to approved disease-specific products. Evidence: MECHANISM_ONLY. Risk: DO_NOT_SELF_ADMINISTER. Regulatory status: INVESTIGATIONAL.
- [What is partial epigenetic reprogramming?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/partial-epigenetic-reprogramming): Partial epigenetic reprogramming is an experimental strategy that aims to shift cells toward a younger state without fully resetting them. It is not a consumer anti-aging treatment. Evidence: ANIMAL_PRECLINICAL. Risk: INVESTIGATIONAL. Regulatory status: INVESTIGATIONAL.
- [What are OSK factors?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-are-osk-factors): OSK factors are Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4, a subset of reprogramming factors used in experimental biology. Their presence in a paper does not make an intervention ready for consumers. Evidence: MECHANISM_ONLY. Risk: INVESTIGATIONAL. Regulatory status: INVESTIGATIONAL.
- [Approved gene therapy vs anti-aging gene therapy.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/approved-gene-therapy-vs-anti-aging-gene-therapy): Approved gene therapy and anti-aging gene therapy are not the same category. Approval for a disease-specific product does not validate broad longevity claims. Evidence: REGULATORY_SIGNAL. Risk: INVESTIGATIONAL. Regulatory status: INVESTIGATIONAL.
- [What is biological age?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-is-biological-age): Biological age is a model-based estimate of aging-related biology. It can be useful for research and trend thinking, but it is not a perfect individual verdict. Evidence: HUMAN_OBSERVATIONAL. Risk: LOW. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [Are epigenetic clocks useful for individuals?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/are-epigenetic-clocks-useful-for-individuals): Epigenetic clocks can be informative, especially in research, but individual results should be interpreted cautiously and not treated as a standalone health plan. Evidence: HUMAN_OBSERVATIONAL. Risk: LOW. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [The longevity biomarker map: VO2 max, ApoB, CGM, DEXA and HRV.](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/longevity-biomarker-map): The best longevity biomarker map separates validated clinical risk markers from fitness measures and exploratory consumer metrics. They should not all be treated equally. Evidence: HUMAN_OBSERVATIONAL. Risk: LOW. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [What are senescent cells?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-are-senescent-cells): Senescent cells are cells that stop dividing and can send inflammatory signals. They can contribute to aging-related problems, but they also have useful roles. Evidence: MECHANISM_ONLY. Risk: MODERATE. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.
- [What are senolytics?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-are-senolytics): Senolytics are proposed interventions that target some senescent cells. The idea is scientifically serious, but broad consumer longevity use is not established. Evidence: ANIMAL_PRECLINICAL. Risk: HIGH. Regulatory status: INVESTIGATIONAL.
- [What actually works in longevity before experimental interventions?](https://longevityhackernews.com/article/what-actually-works-before-experimental-longevity): Before experimental longevity interventions, the best-supported levers are conventional: exercise, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, sleep, blood pressure, lipids, glucose risk, nutrition and preventive care. Evidence: HUMAN_RCT. Risk: LOW. Regulatory status: UNCLEAR.

Claim checks:
- [Does BPC-157 heal tendon and ligament injuries in humans?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/bpc-157-tendon-ligament-healing-humans): BPC-157 tendon-healing claims remain mostly preclinical and should not be treated as proven human recovery guidance.
- [Does TB-500 speed injury recovery?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/tb-500-injury-recovery): TB-500 injury-recovery claims remain unproven in humans and are high-risk without medical oversight.
- [Does Semax improve cognition in healthy people?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/semax-cognition-healthy-people): Semax cognition claims in healthy people are unproven and require careful regulatory context.
- [Does Epitalon extend human lifespan?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/epitalon-human-lifespan): Epitalon human lifespan-extension claims are unsupported and investigational.
- [Can GHK-Cu reverse skin aging?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/ghk-cu-reverse-skin-aging): GHK-Cu has mixed, low-certainty skin evidence and broader reversal claims are overstated.
- [Does MOTS-c improve metabolism and longevity?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/mots-c-metabolism-longevity): MOTS-c has preclinical interest but unproven human metabolism and longevity claims.
- [Does rapamycin slow aging in humans?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/rapamycin-slows-aging-humans): Rapamycin is promising in geroscience but unproven for slowing human aging or extending healthy lifespan.
- [Does metformin extend lifespan in healthy non-diabetic adults?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/metformin-lifespan-healthy-nondiabetic-adults): Metformin is unproven for lifespan extension in healthy non-diabetic adults.
- [Is acarbose a longevity drug?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/acarbose-longevity-drug): Acarbose is promising in animal aging research but unproven as a healthy-human longevity drug.
- [Does NMN raise NAD+ and slow aging?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/nmn-raises-nad-slows-aging): NMN has mixed evidence for NAD-related biomarkers but unproven human anti-aging outcomes.
- [Is NR better than NMN?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/nr-better-than-nmn): NR versus NMN superiority is mixed and not settled for longevity outcomes.
- [Do NAD IV drips reverse aging?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/nad-iv-drips-reverse-aging): NAD IV anti-aging claims are unsupported and often commercially driven.
- [Do epigenetic clocks tell you how long you will live?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/epigenetic-clocks-predict-lifespan): Epigenetic clocks can be research or risk tools but are misleading as exact personal lifespan forecasts.
- [Do biological age tests prove a protocol is working?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/biological-age-tests-prove-protocol-working): Biological-age tests can be tracking signals but do not prove intervention success by themselves.
- [Does partial reprogramming reverse human aging?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/partial-reprogramming-reverses-human-aging): Partial reprogramming is frontier aging science, not proven human age reversal.
- [Is OSK gene therapy available as an anti-aging treatment?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/osk-gene-therapy-anti-aging-available): OSK gene therapy is not a proven or available consumer anti-aging treatment.
- [Does fisetin clear senescent cells in humans?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/fisetin-clears-senescent-cells-humans): Fisetin senolytic claims remain unproven in humans despite preclinical interest.
- [Is dasatinib plus quercetin a DIY longevity protocol?](https://longevityhackernews.com/claim/dasatinib-quercetin-diy-longevity-protocol): Dasatinib plus quercetin is a high-risk investigational senolytic claim, not a DIY longevity protocol.

Entities:
- [BPC-157](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/bpc-157): Mostly preclinical or indirect for the popular injury-recovery claim.
- [TB-500](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/tb-500): Human evidence for consumer recovery claims is weak.
- [Semax](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/semax): Evidence is not strong enough for healthy-person cognition claims.
- [Epitalon](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/epitalon): Human lifespan claims are unsupported.
- [GHK-Cu](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/ghk-cu): Mixed low-certainty evidence for skin appearance; broader anti-aging claims are overstated.
- [MOTS-c](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/mots-c): Preclinical interest exceeds human outcome evidence.
- [Rapamycin](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/rapamycin): Promising biology and animal data; human aging endpoints remain unproven.
- [Metformin](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/metformin): Observational signals are interesting but healthy-adult lifespan claims are unproven.
- [Acarbose](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/acarbose): Animal signals are promising; human longevity evidence is not established.
- [NAD+](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/nad): Biomarker effects do not automatically establish anti-aging outcomes.
- [NMN](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/nmn): Mixed for biomarkers; unproven for slowing human aging.
- [NR](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/nr): Human biomarker evidence exists, but longevity superiority is unproven.
- [Epigenetic clocks](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/epigenetic-clocks): Useful population-level associations; individual decision utility remains more limited.
- [Biological age](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/biological-age): Measurement quality and clinical usefulness vary widely.
- [Senescent cells](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/senescent-cells): Strong biology; intervention evidence varies by compound and population.
- [Fisetin](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/fisetin): Preclinical senolytic interest but limited human outcome evidence.
- [Partial reprogramming](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/partial-reprogramming): Preclinical and early research interest; human aging claims unproven.
- [OSK factors](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/osk-factors): Mechanistic and preclinical relevance; no consumer anti-aging availability.
- [FDA](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/fda): Regulatory documents clarify what is approved, under review, investigational or not approved.
- [ClinicalTrials.gov](https://longevityhackernews.com/entities/clinicaltrialsgov): Useful for study status, design and endpoints; not proof of benefit.