Custom antioxidant created by Russian scientist may help extend life span
“Scientists have located a gene responsible for the process of ageing. Probably scientists should give it a try and simply ‘turn it off’?”
“I don’t believe that scientists are up to such a task presently.”
“How long will man live if your ion should work as planned?”
“I’d say that man might live up to 800 years.”
“Goodness! Such a long life span is likely to create enormous problems for the planet! Earth will be overpopulated, and environment will suffer a devastating impact. Maybe the invention will end up under lock and key because people want to be on the safe side?
“I believe your fears are completely groundless. We see ageing as a disease that can be treated. So why on earth should they keep a medicine classified? It’s simply can’t be done, for a start. The Russians managed to synthesize it, so why the Americans can’t do the same? We set the ball in motion. Besides, keeping it dark doesn’t seem a very patriotic attitude to me. The discovery is a matter of national pride, don’t you think?”
“Where do you think all those long-lived people will live then?”
“I believe politicians will have to address this issue once an anti-age drug is on hand. I’m not a politician, I’m a scientist. Maybe a law will be passed to limit the childbearing age.”
“Something like ‘you’re banned from having children after reaching 600’?”
“I’d say a 50-year limit looks more reasonable. Besides, are you sure that each and every one would like to live a very long life? We’re not talking about immortality. We should take into account such things as epidemics, infections, accidents, wars and natural disasters. Besides, some new diseases are likely to come to light even if cancel ageing. We may succeed in destroying one program responsible for ageing. But what if we fail to take care of other similar programs? To me, these are pure speculations based on an admission of numerous factors. It doesn’t make sense in terms of science,” concludes Skulachev.
“Could the problem of extending life span will eventually turn into the problem of extending old age?”
“We aim to extend a life span of the humans. Nature has a lot of species which can stay young for a long time, so to speak. Some large sea birds can live without growing old for 50 years. They are virtually young when they die suddenly one day. The Greenland whale’s life span is 200 years. A giant turtle can live even longer than that. In fact, it doesn’t die of age-related factors; it dies only because its shell becomes too heavy as years go by.”
Being youthful and active at 75?
“When do you think man will need to be treated with the drug to stop the ageing process?”
“Perhaps the drug should be administered during pregnancy. However, anti-age treatment at 50 can’t be ruled out.
“Will the drug be used for making cosmetic creams?”
“Cosmetic applications seem perfect for the drug because of it’s a powerful antioxidant.”
“What is your opinion about therapy based on the use of stem cells?”
“Unfortunately, there is no such kind of treatment in this country. It’s just a way of cheating patients out of their money.”
“What would you recommend to use to stop ageing while your drug is still in the works?”
“Use antioxidants that are already available.”
“Don’t you feel a bit scared because the wonder drug might turn the world upside down?
“I do feel scared thinking about all our efforts that may end in failure because we made a mistake or two. That’s my biggest fear.”
Translated by Guerman Grachev
Pravda.ru
