Common Molecule Fed to Rats Nearly Doubles Their Life Expectancy

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on April 19, 2012 at 3:25pm

Very interesting, John, and thanks. I was under the impression that the association of oxidative stress to aging, and the assumed benefits of antioxidants, was still in question. Oxidative stress: Less harmful than suspected? This evidence weighs on the pro-antixoidant side, if they're sure this is the mechanism.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on April 20, 2012 at 2:54pm

Maybe the buckyballs are in some way extending the functionality of the telomeres at the end of the chromosomes. For some time it has been known that doing this can extend life expectancy and even reverse aging to some extent in mice.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov/28/scientists-reverse-ag...

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on June 27, 2012 at 5:13pm

As always, the research on mice sounds great until you come to the "gotcha". Oh yeah, cancer.

Permalink Reply by Sean Murphy on April 20, 2012 at 6:56pm

Is there nothing buckminsterfullerenes can't do?

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on April 21, 2012 at 10:15am

I hope the findings apply to us and that we don't have to wait our average life expectancy to experimentally find out.