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How to make ageing a 'fairer game' for all wormkind - EurekAlert
Researchers have discovered a new fundamental mechanism governing the rules of ageing in worms. The researchers were able to manipulate the mechanism through genetic interventions which dramatically extend not just the lifespan of the worms, but also their healthspan. In other words, trading weak, frail old age with vigorous golden years – all without altering their diet, environment or other external factors. Unlike other lifespan altering interventions, which increase life expectancy uniformly, the researchers targeted lifespan variation instead, shortening it by 50%. For example, if worms normally start dying between days 8 and 16 of their lives, the researcher raised the lower end of the spectrum to day 12 instead. The implications of the work extend beyond worms as humans share a lot of biology with these small creatures. The researchers will next examine whether similar mechanisms of ageing exist and can be exploited in mice. The findings are published in the journal Cell.
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