
The fountain of youth may exist after all, as a study  showed that scientists have discovered means to extend the lifespan of mice and  primates.
 The key to eternal -- or at least prolonged -- youth lies in genetic  manipulation that mimics the health  benefits of reducing calorie intake, suggesting that aging and age-related  diseases can be treated. Scientists from the Institute  of Healthy Ageing at University  College London (UCL) extended the lifespan of mice by up to a fifth and  reduced the number of age-related diseases affecting the animals after they  genetically manipulated them to block production of the S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1)  protein.
Scientists have shown since the 1930s that reducing the calorie intake by 30 percent for rats, mice and -- in a more recent finding -- primates can extend their lifespan by 40 percent and have health benefits.
By blocking S6K1, which is involved in the body's response to changes in food intake, similar benefits were obtained without reducing food intake, according to the study published in the US journal Science.
The results corroborated those of other recent studies.