Research conducted by the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Researh Council) Centre for Integrated Systems Biology
of Ageing and Nutrition (CISBAN) is being presented at the
conference of the British Society for Research on Ageing (BSRA)
in Newcastle, U.K. This research sheds new light on why
restricted diets extend life span in certain organisms. Mice fed
a restricted diet had reduced levels of senescent cells in their
livers and intestines, where large numbers of these cells are
known to accumulate as animals age. It was found that the cells
of mice fed restricted diets better maintained their telomeres,
the protective ‘ends’ of chromosomes that help prevent errors,
and aging. Read more at the BBSRC website.