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Researchers seek biological key to 'fountain of youth'

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November 4, 1996
Web posted at: 10:00 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Rhonda Rowland

ATLANTA (CNN) -- In an effort to halt or reverse aging, some people turn to various drugs such as human growth hormones and melatonin. Researchers say there is little, if any, scientific evidence to suggest those drugs have an effect on aging.

But their research should not lead us to abandon all hope; they say there may indeed be a fountain of youth.

Scientists working to uncover the secret of aging say tiny worms may hold part of the answer.

worm Their discovery was accidental: Hurricane Andrew destroyed many research labs at the University of Miami, but some worms survived the destruction and resulting power outages, and lived 15 to 20 percent longer than expected.

Finding the responsible genes in the worms, which age like people, could provide clues to human aging. "I'm sure that this will prove to be a phenomenon that is very complicated, involving tens or hundreds of genes," said University of Miami researcher Dr. Robert Rubin.

Another area of research focuses on a tiny part of our chromosomes called telomeres, located at the tip of each chromosome. Over time, as cells divide, telomeres get shorter and shorter.

telomeres

There is evidence suggesting telomeres may regulate certain aspects of aging. However, according to Dr. Woody Wright, finding a way to keep telomeres from getting shorter will probably not make human beings immortal.

"All that it could do, if we're lucky, and if our hypothesis is correct, is extend the period of vigor, and perhaps the entire human life span," said Wright, a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern.

So far, researchers have not been able to lengthen telomeres. Nevertheless, scientists are hopeful that they will see results from their studies soon. Gerontologist Ken Dychtwald believes that in the next 10 to 15 years, "We're going to see breakthroughs that are going to blow our minds, that will making aging as we've known it totally obsolete."

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University of Miami researcher Dr. Robert Rubin agrees that in the future, it could be possible to halt or reverse aging. If we could do that, how long would we live? "Nobody knows the answer to that," he said.

In the process of discovering the genes responsible for our aging, researchers expect to learn more about the genes contributing to diseases more common in the elderly, such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. Finding ways to prevent such devastating diseases might not have a dramatic effect on life expectancy, but would add quality years to a person's life.

 
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