How old can a human become? 120 years, says research. At this point, the regenerative potential of the body is used up. But for many people, to be 120 years old does not seem desirable. Too big are the feared health restrictions in old age, which might make life less worth living.

This is where Johannes Grillari comes into play. In a [M]Eins report by Paul Fleischanderl which aired on ORF, the new head of the LBI Trauma speaks about his research in the field of cell aging. His goal is not to extend the maximum lifespan, but to enable people to age in good health. Various active ingredients have yielded promising results. The extract of the Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea, for example, has a positive effect on the aging process by altering the gene expression profile of senescent cells so that they exert less negative influence on neighboring cells (see Blocking negative effects of senescence in human skin fibroblasts with a plant extract). Spermidine, present in large quantities in wheat germ, soybeans, mature cheese or mushrooms, leads to accelerated degradation of damaged macromolecules by autophagy. Metformin, which is known from diabetes research, may possibly delay age-related diseases.

Johannes Grillari is confident that while new scientific insights will not extend lifespan, they will very soon be able to improve the people’s health span.

The [M]Eins report by Paul Fleischanderl is provided with kind permission of the ORF.