Longevity Gene Found

quixote9 writes "Calorie restriction while maintaining nutrient levels has long been known to dramatically increase life spans. Very different lab animals, from worms to mice, live up to 50% longer (or even more) on the restricted diets. However, so far, nobody has been able to figure out how this works. Scientists at the Salk Institute have found a specific gene in worms (there's a very similar one in people) that is directly involved in the longevity effect. That opens up the interesting possibility that doctors may someday be able to activate that gene directly and we can live long and prosper . . . without giving up chocolate."

Comments

Re:OTOH

[tomhudson]

"I know that population rates decline on industrialized countries"

You want a real flame - try the truth, like this:

The US is going to be among the worst offenders in contributing to over-population over the next 40 years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulation

During 2005-2050, nine countries are expected to account for half of the world's projected population increase: India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, United States of America, Ethiopia, and China, listed according to the size of their contribution to population growth.

China, with 4 times the population, will grow less than the US.

Now keep in mind the US's environmental footprint (5% of the worlds' population, 26% of all energy consumption) - so as the US population more than doubles to 650 million, you're looking at some serious shortages.

Of course, there's always this "inconvenient truth" http://www.worldwatch.org/node/810

An estimated 65 % of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, leading to an annual loss of 300,000 lives and at least $117 billion in health care costs in 1999.

In 2002, 61 % of U.S. credit card users carried a monthly balance, averaging $12,000 at 16 % interest. This amounts to about $1,900 a year in finance charges--more than the average per capita income in at least 35 countries (in purchasing power parity).

A nation drowning in debt at all levels, addicted to junk food, junk credit, and junk science for its environmental "policies".

Its the truth, and its also flamebait :-)

Re:Who Doesn't Wan't More Time?

[Peldor]

You have the same amount of time (roughly 24 hours per day) as all those people you admire who do more/have more/are more/live more.

Time is not your problem. You are your problem. Get to work on that.