Researchers may have found a way to slow human aging

Finding a way to slow, stop, or reverse human aging is a Holy Grail of scientific research. And a study published today brings scientists one step closer to that ambitious goal.

The researchers found that prolonged calorie restriction may slow the rate at which humans age by up to 3%—a seemingly small shift that they say could translate to a significantly lower risk of premature death. But skipping your afternoon snack isn’t enough to see that kind of effect. The people in the study were supposed to slash their daily calorie consumption by 25% for two years, a steep drop that not everyone stuck to for the full two years.

Even the researchers say this kind of extreme diet isn’t a “practical” solution for slowing aging at a population level. But the findings at least suggest it’s possible to slow the rate at which humans age, a finding that could have big implications for public health.

READ MORE