Rejuvenation Gone Wrong: The Hidden Link Between Feline and Human Aging

🌿 Today I uploaded a new Guide to The Health Library on my website!

This one is for cat owners — especially those with senior cats — who want to help their pets live long, healthy, and vibrant lives. It’s all about understanding which supportive and preventive strategies truly extend quality of life.

While working on this guide, one topic really stood out: how sudden or aggressive “rejuvenation” efforts can actually trigger cancer. The lecturer draws a clear parallel to humans — and honestly, I’ve heard so many stories of celebrities who tried advanced anti-aging methods, only to fall seriously ill and pass away too soon.

Here’s a fragment from the guide:

"Some retroviruses can insert themselves into a cell’s DNA and activate proto-oncogenes — the genes responsible for cell growth and division.

In the early stages of infection, this can lead to rapid cell proliferation: • regeneration is stimulated

• metabolism speeds up

• coat and skin appear glossy and “glowing”

• the animal becomes unusually playful and energetic — like it’s young again

It feels like a brief burst of euphoria in the body — everything “switches on,” the immune system kicks in, regeneration happens, metabolism accelerates.

But… this fire burns out quickly: • the body can’t fully control this rapid acceleration (especially in older animals)

• the risk of mutations, tumors, and immune dysregulation rises

• often, this glowing phase is followed by the development of lymphoma, leukemia, or immune failure

💡 A similar effect has been observed in people:

They start taking strong immune stimulants — supplements, adaptogens — and they “blossom” for a short time: glowing skin, high energy, sparkle in their eyes...

And then comes the crash — a cancer diagnosis.

Why? Because metabolism was pushed into overdrive, but the body’s immune oversight couldn’t keep up with the rapid growth." GUIDE: Feline Gerontology: Aging Gracefully