http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk/disp...=sidebarsearch

"Professor Speakman, of the zoology department, believes that the hormone thyroxine - produced by the thyroid gland and which speeds up metabolism - could hold the key.

He said: "For the last four years we have been doing research on mice to determine the relationship between fast metabolisms and longevity.

"Contrary to previous research done at the end of the 19th Century we discovered that mice with faster metabolisms lived for about 2-300 days longer.

"Mice are similar to humans in many respects and therefore it makes sense that this applies in humans too."

The professor is about to begin another four-year experiment with thyroxine to see if it extends the mice's lives.

If it is a success, he says, the next logical step would be to conduct tests on humans to see if our own lives can be extended.

Thyroxine works by activating an uncoupling protein within the mitochondrial membrane of a living organism's cells.

This protein increases cell metabolism by reducing the number of free radicals present.

Free radicals are highly unstable molecules that react very easily with other molecules and therefore damage DNA - meaning faster body wear and tear.

Professor Speakman said: "If the experiments on mice prolong their lives then the consequences for humans could be very exciting. We could find that we are able to live for decades longer."

"
funnet på thyroid.about.com forumet UK
http://forums.about.com/ab-thyroiduk/

nora