Biological Secrets Unlocked of How Eating Less Extends Lifespan

Technology

Biological Secrets Unlocked of How Eating Less Extends Lifespan

For decades, scientists have been searching for the fundamental biological secrets of how eating less extends a lifespan. It\'s been well documented in species...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

December 1, 2010 11:46 am

< a min read

For decades, scientists have been searching for the fundamental biological secrets of how eating less extends a lifespan.

It’s been well documented in species ranging from spiders to monkeys that a diet with consistently fewer calories can dramatically slow the process of aging and improve health in old age. But how such a diet acts at the most basic level to influence metabolism and the decline of tissues and cells has largely remained a mystery.

Now, team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin describe a molecular pathway that is a key determinant of the aging process. The study focused on an enzyme known as Sirt-3.

The finding not only helps explain the events that contribute to aging, but also provides a rational basis for devising interventions, including drugs that may slow aging.