New Findings on Aging Health Issues Could Lead to Man-Made Fountain of Youth

Aging can lead to health issues like wrinkles, arthritis, and heart problems. But a new study has found the cause of the "cellular death" responsible, which could lead to many anti-aging breakthroughs in the coming years.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on February 16 2010

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Once you reach a certain age, you generally find that your body starts going downhill. Wrinkles, liver spots, arthritis, heart problems—they’re all par for the course.

Scientists have been searching for that magical Fountain of Youth ever since the days of Ponce de Leon, and there’s no sign of it yet—but a team of researchers from England’s Newcastle University has just come up with a valuable breakthrough: even though they can’t stop aging from occurring, they’ve discovered why it happens.

According to the results of their study, published in the journal Molecular Systems Biology, the researchers found that cells stop dividing, causing physical deterioration such as heart problems and wrinkles, when they detect DNA damage. As a defensive mechanism, the damaged cells send signals to the brain, triggering the creation of “free radical” molecules, which cause the cells to cease dividing or even to self-destruct. The researchers found that the cells’ natural ability to detect damage can often prevent types of cancers and other disease from causing further health issues.

Now that the cause of age-related physical deterioration has been found, the researchers can use the findings to help people stay healthier as they grow older.

“Our breakthrough means that we stand a very much better chance of making a successful attack on age-related diseases while at the same time avoiding the risk of unwanted side-effects like cancer,” Professor Tom Kirkwood, director of Newcastle University’s Institute of Ageing and Health, told the Financial Times.

So maybe that fabled Fountain is just around the corner after all? Stay tuned…

Filed under: General Interest, Health and Wellbeing, Science,

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