Aging

There's been some recent news on the aging front.

For decades researchers have known that restricting the caloric intake of certain animals significantly extended their average lifespans. One experiment in the 30s doubled the lifespan of rats by severely limiting the number of calories they consumed.

There have always been problems with applying this research to humans, though a lot of people have been intrigued by the idea.

A new study has determined that only mice that are likely to get fat benefit from caloric restriction. Naturally lean mice don't live any longer when fed fewer calories.

So if you don't have a weight problem, it doesn't look like skimping is going to do you much good.

MEANWHILE, researchers at Stanford have found evidence that aging isn't simply a process by which the cells of our bodies gradually break down but rather an active process in which genes associated with aging are increasingly activated as time goes on. Blocking the expression of those genes, at least in mice, results in reduced signs of aging.

"There is a genetic process that has to be on, and enforced, in order for aging to happen," said Howard Chang, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology and a member of Stanford's Cancer Center. "It's possible that those rare individuals who live beyond 100 years have a less-efficient version of this master pathway, just as children with progeria—a genetic aging disease—may have components of this pathway that are more active."

Note to Dr. Chang: I'm 43, hurry up with it already!!! :-)