Nematodes on Lithium
Science Daily reports on a Buck Institute study that says nematodes doped up on lithium live a lot longer — 46% longer.
In the study, scientists discovered that longevity was increased in the worms when the lithium “turned down” the activity of a gene that modulates the basic structure of chromosomes.
And:
“Understanding the genetic impact of lithium may allow us to engineer a therapy that has the same lifespan extending benefits,” said Lithgow. “One of the larger questions is whether the lifespan extending benefits of the drug are directly related to the fact that lithium protects neurons.” The process of normal aging in humans is intrinsically linked to the onset of neurodegenerative disease.
