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The first Methuselah Foundation Rejuvenation 'M Prize" for Reversing Aging in Middle-Aged Mice Using Techniques Applicable to Human Beings has been awarded to Dr. Stephen Spindler, who lead an experiment to make mice biologically younger while extending their lifespans.
The research was first reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of science. Dr. Spindler demonstrated that middle-aged mice could achieve an average 15% longer life, accompanied by significant reductions in deaths from cancer. DNA microarray analysis showed that the mice actually became younger. The results were achieved using calorie restriction in a group of mice starting at age 19 months.
The best news at all for those of us who cannot see imposing a calorie restriction diet on ourselves (even if caged) can take heart from this exerpt from Dr. Spindler's paper:
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Importantly, these results suggest that it should be possible to use rapid treatments with pharmaceuticals and other compounds to identify agents that mimic the rapid changes in gene expression caused by caloric restriction. The gene expression biomarkers of caloric restriction can also be used to develop pharmaceuticals targeted to its genomic effects.
The Methuselah Foundation bears some striking similarities to the Ansari XPrize foundation, which recently awarded the first XPrize to SpaceShipOne.
The Methuselah Foundation is supported by individuals who are no longer willing to stand by and do nothing while the diseases of aging disable and then take their irreplaceable loved ones away. They are taking matters into their own hands and inviting others to join with them to cure and reverse aging. Among the over 100 donors and sponsors, including the X PRIZE Foundation, Foresight Institute, the Life Extension Foundation, Dr. William Haseltine -- Founder of Human Genome Sciences and Dr. Raymond Kurzweil -- noted futurist and entrepreneur.
Science fiction writers have already blazed the path when it comes to setting up foundations for longevity research. Perhaps the most famous early example is that of the Howard Families, from Robert Heinlein's 1941 novel Methuselah's Children. In the story, the Howard Foundation is started in the mid-1800's by Ira Howard who died at 48 - of old age. He gave his life's fortune as a bequest to found an organization that would seek to lengthen the span of human life. The best way at that time was to make use of basic breeding principles to encourage marriages between people with healthy vigorous grandparents. Several hundred years (and a dozen or so generations) later, the descendants of the Howard Families typically lived to 120+ years of age.
If you are interested longevity research based on genetic heritage, read about Yoda - The World's Oldest Mouse. Yoda's lifespan was achieved without calorie restriction - the most common method of achieving longevity in mice and other mammals.
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Bill Christensen catalogues the inventions, technology and ideas of science fiction writers at his website, Technovelgy. He is a contributor to Live Science.
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