Scientists Search for the Fountain of Youth

Uncovering the secret of eternal life is a pursuit that has attracted philosophers, alchemists, wizards, and other quasi-scientific crackpots for thousands of years. Indeed, many of the most well-known -- and ill-fated -- scientific endeavors have been undertaken in the pursuit of the elusive fountain of youth.

In the 21st century, the puzzle of the human lifespan - the fountain of youth - is still a mystery that confounds scientists. Researchers continue to work to solve the mystery of longevity, but today's experiments are driven more by the hope of finding ways to treat disease and improve overall quality of life than by the quest for endless life that motivated medieval mad scientist.

In fact, the field of longevity and lifespan research has yielded a number of key findings in recent years. This week, we'll survey a number of the most significant studies that have sought to solve the mystery of the human lifespan.

Arctic Herb May Serve to Lengthen the Lifespan

An herbal extract drawn from a flowering plant that grows in the Arctic region has been shown to boost longevity, according to the results of a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine.

The herb has long been said to have longevity-boosting and stress-relief properties by members of the indigenous Asian and European communities in the region where it grows on ice-covered mountainsides. This property seems to have been confirmed in the laboratory.

In fruit fly studies, a diet rich in the herbal supplement, known as Rhodiola rosea, was shown to lengthen the average lifespan by approximately ten percent. At the current juncture, the mechanisms behind this effect are not yet known. However, the authors postulated that it may be the result of the herb's antioxidant properties. They suggest further research into Rhodiola rosea as an anti-aging agent and a possible form of holistic stress therapy.

Study Seeks to Clarify the Lifespan-Boosting Powers of Diet and Exercise

Some of the advice that's most commonly given to those seeking to increase the length of their life span is to eat right and stay fit. While these suggestions make sense, scientists are working to understood how diet and exercise can contribute to a longer lifespan.

One study conducted by researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute further explored the relationship between diet, exercise, and lifespan by investigating these variables in a population of mice.

They first established a connection between longer-lived mice, healthier diets, and increased exercise. Then, the researchers examined the mice for clues as to the physical source of this complex of variables.

It was found that the mice that ate better diets, exercised more, and lived longer showed a number of key neurological and physiological differences in comparison with their normal counterparts. Specifically, the mice that lived longer had fewer signs of signaling patterns along a certain neurological pathway in the brain.

The signaling pathways are involved with the production and distribution of insulin in the brain and the body. By eating a healthy diet and exercising more, a high level of insulin sensitivity is maintained, thus reducing the signals that travel along this pathway. The researchers say that these findings are important for both longevity research and attaining a deeper understanding of the role of insulin exposure in the aging process, knowledge that may shape future treatments for diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Genes Play a Significant Role in Determining Lifespan, Study Finds

As knowledge of the human genome has expanded considerably in recent years, scientists have begun to uncover genes that influence virtually every aspect of human life, ranging from personality traits to disease risk. Perhaps not surprisingly, a team of researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered genes that appear to influence the length of the human lifespan, as well.

In studying a group of genetically similar Ashkenazi Jews over the age of 95, the researchers found two sets of genes that seemed to impact longevity. The first genes influenced the length of life, and the second set of genes served as "buffers," limiting the unfavorable impact of other genes.

The authors caution that more research is needed to confirm these findings, but contend that these "buffering" genes could be used to develop anti-aging drugs and treatments for diseases of old age in the future.

Talk to your doctor to develop a personalized plan to lengthen your lifespan. And don't forget to check back each week to get more of the latest health science news.