Leslie Mitch
Sci Aging Knowledge Environ. 2006 Jun 28;2006(10):nf17. doi: 10.1126/sageke.2006.10.nf17.
What's left to learn about aging? The burning question for many researchers is whether life-stretching pathways and genes from model organisms boost human life span. Researchers might be able to track down additional genes and pathways that adjust longevity by studying a broader range of organisms or by tracking the evolution of genes that promote aging. An alternative way to extend our lives might be to identify the genes behind late-life killers such as heart disease and diabetes. Lab animals last longer on a very low-cal diet, and scientists are probing whether humans can benefit from this austerity. Or better yet, perhaps researchers can design molecules that deliver the gain of calorie reduction without the pain. Scientists are also focusing on which parts of the cell incur damage as we age and how growth and reproduction tie in to longevity. The speed of the next round of advances will depend on whether movers and shakers in funding organizations recognize the importance of the research and are willing to pay for it.
关于衰老还有哪些有待了解的呢？对许多研究人员来说，亟待解决的问题是，来自模式生物的延长寿命的途径和基因能否延长人类寿命。研究人员或许能够通过研究更广泛的生物种类，或者追踪促进衰老的基因的进化过程，来找到其他调节寿命的基因和途径。延长寿命的另一种方法可能是找出诸如心脏病和糖尿病等老年杀手背后的基因。实验动物在极低热量饮食下寿命更长，科学家们正在探究人类是否能从这种节制中获益。或者更好的是，也许研究人员可以设计出能带来减少热量摄入的益处而又无需承受其痛苦的分子。科学家们也在关注随着年龄增长细胞的哪些部分会受到损伤，以及生长和繁殖如何与寿命相关联。下一轮进展的速度将取决于资助机构的关键人物是否认识到这项研究的重要性并愿意为此提供资金。
