Science 289(5484): 1567-1569 Sep 1,2000
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.
