• Question: Do you think you will find the substance (cells) which stops humans getting older in looks?

    Asked by lydiahaines to Amy, Drew, Julia, Kimberley, Sara on 20 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by robina.
    • Photo: Amy MacQueen

      Amy MacQueen answered on 15 Jun 2011:

      I am not actually looking for it myself…I don’t think there is just one substance that makes us look older. As we age lots of changes happen in our body – essentially they are wearing out from the moment we start life! Lots of media focus is on looking good and how we can keep humans living longer and healthier but I think its unlikely that we will ever stop people looking old.

      I mean there are loads of treatments that people can have to make them look younger – but they always come with a downside…botox takes away your wrinkles but it also makes you lose some of your expressions! 🙂 I guess it comes down to what you think is natural and important – should we all want to have no wrinkles, brilliantly coloured hair etc? Some of these give character!!

      If you want to reduce the amount you look old you should moisturise a lot, eat healthily, avoid drinking too much/smoking or taking other harmful things and have an active lifestyle…oh and sunblock!

      Good question Lydia – keep asking!! 🙂

    • Photo: Sara Imari Walker

      Sara Imari Walker answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hi lydiahaines!! Good questioning! Most current technology that makes us look younger is not so healthy as Amy has pointed out. It is possible that we could, in the future, stop aging by stopping cells from undergoing the processes that make us age. Then, not only would we stay looking young we’d actually stay young! We are a long ways off from this however. Cell biology is really complicated and we are only just starting to scratch the surface.

    • Photo: Julia Griffen

      Julia Griffen answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hey, Not me personally… I think they’ll find stuff to keep cells and the body looking healthy for longer, maybe by kepping cells big and full and healty.

      But I dont think they’ll find a miracle cure, you cant really stop the aging process, dont think i’d want to either that nature. grow old gracefully and all!

    • Photo: Kimberley Bryon

      Kimberley Bryon answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hey,

      I happened to work with a scientist called Cynthia Kenyon who is working on exactly that, last Summer. In nematode worms at least we have found mutations that cause worms to not only live longer but also look younger. DNA is like an instruction book for cells and when you get a mistake (mutation) it can lead to a different set of instructions. From what I know, it is to do with insulin signalling. Ageing is very complex though and it looks unlikely to be a single substance but rather many different things that determine the rate at which we age.

      As Amy said, living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to keep looking young!

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