6/29/2011 PERMALINK
Drug reverses 'Accelerated Aging Disease' in human cells. Kan Cao, an associate professor of cell biology and molecular genetics and colleagues at the University of Maryland, have found that the drug rapamycin can reverse the effects in human cells of the rapid aging disease known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. Rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, has already been shown to extend life span in healthy mice. The compound appears to enhance the ability of human cells to prevent the accumulates of proteins that cause cells to lose function over time.