LONDON: An elixir of life could soon be a reality, as scientists have discovered a new drug which they believe could reverse the effects of premature ageing and extend human life by over 10 years.
In remarkable experiments, a team of US scientists took skin cells from children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic condition in which babies rapidly grow old and die at around 12 years, and turned them healthy again by using rapamycin, known as the "forever young drug".
Rapamycin, used to suppress the immune system in organ transplants, has been created from a bacterium found in the soil on Easter Island, the Daily Mail reported. Past research has hinted that the drug may have the power to extend human lifespan by more than a decade.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
In remarkable experiments, a team of US scientists took skin cells from children with Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic condition in which babies rapidly grow old and die at around 12 years, and turned them healthy again by using rapamycin, known as the "forever young drug".
Rapamycin, used to suppress the immune system in organ transplants, has been created from a bacterium found in the soil on Easter Island, the Daily Mail reported. Past research has hinted that the drug may have the power to extend human lifespan by more than a decade.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
