Drugs slow aging in worms
By John Travis
Mimicking enzymes found in most animals, two drugs can extend the life span of worms by more than 50 percent, according to a study in the Sept. 1 Science. Supporting a popular theory of aging, the drugs work by defusing the highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules commonly known as free radicals.
This is the first time scientists have shown that a drug treatment can significantly lengthen an animal’s normal life span, notes study coauthor Simon Melov of the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, Calif.