University of New South Wales scientists examine theory that eating less makes animals live longer

• Published in: ABC Premium News
• Main Author: Hall, Ashley
• Format: Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: Sydney Australian Broadcasting Corporation 18.03.2014
• Subjects: Adler, Margo

  "They're in an extraordinarily artificial environment. There's no predators; there's no pathogens, no parasites; the temperature is controlled; there's really nothing to kill the animal, except for old age," she said. "And so an animal that's dietarily restricted might increase its rates of cellular recycling mechanisms so that it can get more of its own stored nutrients, so it needs fewer nutrients from the environment." "But the benefit is that these cellular recycling mechanisms actually kind of clean up the cells and they reduce rates of cancer and reduce rates of cellular deterioration and so animals live longer and they have lower rates of cancer when they have higher rates of cellular recycling processes," she said.