Anti-aging is big business. From books encouraging diets like intermittent fasting to cosmetic creams to prevent wrinkles, a multibillion-dollar industry has been built on the promise of helping us live longer and look younger. But how close are we to extending lifespans in ways that further extend healthy lifespans?
nobel prize winners Venki RamakrishnanThe molecular biologist and former president of the Royal Society is the latest person to tackle this issue. He has spent his 25 years at his MRC Molecular Biology Laboratory in Cambridge, England, studying ribosomes, which use the information encoded in genes to help cells make proteins.
In his latest book, Why we die: The new science of aging and the quest for immortalityhe takes us on a journey through the cutting-edge biology of human aging and asks whether it will be possible to extend our lifespans in the near future.
he speaks new scientist Recent advances in knowledge about the causes of aging, how close we are to developing treatments to combat aging, and the potential impact if successful.
Graham Lawton: Why did you decide to leave a hugely successful career studying how cells make proteins and write a book about aging?
Venki Ramakrishnan: There are two. One is that the translation of genetic code into proteins affects nearly every biological process, and it turns out to be central to many aspects of aging.
Another reason is that we have always worried about old age and death.
Source: www.newscientist.com
