RENO, Nev. -- For many centuries, scientists have tried to find a ‘Fountain of Youth,’ and that answer may be right here in Northern Nevada.
“Our focus is to actually develop the ultimate drug to stop and reverse aging,” said Dr. Bill Andrews the president of Sierra Sciences in Reno.
Andrews said aging is linked to a DNA sequence called telomeres. When that shortens over the course of our lifetime, we age. He said his laboratory has found hundreds of chemicals that can activate an enzyme called telomerase that prevents the telomeres from shortening, possibly even reversing it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if when we came up with a stronger telomerase inducer, we start seeing people actually looking into the mirror saying ‘Boy, I look younger than I did before,’” said Andrews.
Andrews said current anti-aging drugs in the market like TA-65 and Isagenix’s Product B only slows down aging, but his drug will take it a few steps further.
“Everything is pointing in the direction where we will actually get younger and healthier,” said Andrews.
Sierra Sciences has yet to find the home-run telomerase-activating chemical. Andrews said with adequate funding, that ideal drug can be developed in the next three years.
Dr. Andrews is scheduled to attend a conference in Cambridge, United Kingdom later this year to present his findings.
