Peptides of pineal gland and thymus prolong human life

This long-term clinical study, published in Neuro Endocrinology Letters, reported the results of a 6 to 8 year follow-up of 266 elderly patients (60-80 years) treated with peptide bioregulators derived from the thymus (Vilon/Thymalin) and the pineal gland (Epithalamin). The study was conducted by the Khavinson and Morozov group at the Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology in Saint Petersburg.

Participants received periodic cycles of the peptide bioregulators and were monitored for clinical parameters, laboratory values, and mortality. The thymus peptides normalized functions of the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. The combination of thymic and pineal peptides produced the most significant effects.

• Mortality in the combined treatment group (thymus + pineal) was 4.1-fold lower than in the control group
• Treatment with thymic peptides alone reduced mortality by 2.0-2.1-fold
• Significant recovery of T lymphocyte subpopulations was observed
• The incidence of acute respiratory diseases decreased in treated groups
• Functional capacity and quality of life showed measurable improvement

Although these results are impressive, it is important to contextualize them within the Russian gerontological research tradition on peptide bioregulators. The study represents one of the foundations of Khavinson's theory on the use of short peptides for aging modulation and restoration of physiological functions in the elderly.