NIH intramural study also shows that individual organs are
affected differently
By lowering the expression of a single gene, researchers at
the National Institutes of Health have extended the average lifespan of a group
of mice by about 20 percent — the equivalent of raising the average human
lifespan by 16 years, from 79 to 95. The research team targeted a gene called
mTOR, which is involved in metabolism and energy balance, and may be connected
with the increased lifespan associated with caloric restriction.
A detailed study of these mice revealed that gene-influenced
lifespan extension did not affect every tissue and organ the same way. For
example, the mice retained better memory and balance as they aged, but their
bones deteriorated more quickly than normal.