Abstract
We tested the theory that reactive oxygen species cause aging. We augmented the natural antioxidant systems of Caenorhabditis elegans with small synthetic superoxide dismutase/catalase mimetics. Treatment of wild-type worms increased their mean life-span by a mean of 44 percent, and treatment of prematurely aging worms resulted in normalization of their life-span (a 67 percent increase). It appears that oxidative stress is a major determinant of life-span and that it can be counteracted by pharmacological intervention.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1567-1569 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 289 |
| Issue number | 5484 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |