So keeping the pineal gland young and sprightly could stop or even reverse ageing. Sadly the few people who have tried taking melatonin doses each day say there are definitely no such effects in humans. Its well established that ageing equals damage to tissues in our body. But some scientists believe that its actually damage to the power plant of each cell which lies at the heart of the ageing process. The mitochondria run on oxygen - a surprisingly potent substance which when concentrated can be very destructive.
Oxygen rusts cars and rots food.
And if it breaks free from the mitochondria in our cells it can cause great damage to the surrounding tissue. This stray oxygen generates free radicals which run riot in our cells unless we mop them up. As we get older our ability to mop them up declines. But although eating an apple a day might keep the doctor away its not likely to make us live forever and some scientists are turning to genes for the answer. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that you will probably live longer if your ancestors reached a ripe old age.