Crucially, quality of life is not sacrificed in these long-lived fruit flies. They also remain physically and sexually active longer. The researchers suspect that humans have more of this type of gene than do fruit flies, given that people are more complex than insects. Whereas manipulation of a single gene affects the fruit fly s life span, in humans it may be necessary to alter multiple related genes. Calories either don't get absorbed or are wasted.
Caloric restriction is the only way known to extend the life span of mammals.
We are eager to follow our study with experiments to understand how life span extension is achieved. It offers a target for future drug therapies aimed at extending human life. In fruit flies, the Indy gene mutation doesn't make infancy last longer, but it does prolong active adulthood and delays the onset of aging. Robert Reenan, Ph.D., a co-investigator and an assistant professor of genetics and developmental biology, expects that this work may also help humans achieve and maintain their ideal body weight. Such medications would have low toxicity and be non-invasive.