Yup, exactly right. This would be the most direct possible test of the hypothesis.
Re:thymus, this study found that a mitochondrially-targetted antioxidant prevented thymic involution, so there is at least some evidence that thymic involution is caused by the same core pathways. Though the timing of thymic involution is pretty suspicious, when compared to the other core-pathway diseases.
Yup, exactly right. This would be the most direct possible test of the hypothesis.
Re:thymus, this study found that a mitochondrially-targetted antioxidant prevented thymic involution, so there is at least some evidence that thymic involution is caused by the same core pathways. Though the timing of thymic involution is pretty suspicious, when compared to the other core-pathway diseases.