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    Anti-aging formula developed in Hong Kong with red grape compound as key ingredient

    Anti-aging formula developed in Hong Kong with red grape compound as key ingredient

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    Scientists from Hong Kong developed a formula that can help combat a rare early-aging disease found in some infants, but there's also reason to believe it can help reverse the aging process even for healthy individuals. A six-year study from the University of Hong Kong has yielded a compound that the researchers hope can combat the disease Progeria, an affliction that affects about one in four million babies and causes extreme physical aging — they lose body fat, stop growing, and have wrinkled skin and premature hair loss. Those with the disease rarely live past the age of 20. The scientists behind this anti-aging research have found that the healthy Lamin A protein can bind with the gene SIRT1, which is known for its longevity properties. "We can develop drugs that mimic Lamin A or increase the binding between Lamin A and SIRT1," Liu Baohua, research assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Hong Kong, said at a news conference.

    Further testing showed that the efficiencies between Lamin A and SIRT1 could be boosted through the inclusion of resveratrol, a compound typically found in red grapes. Lab mice with progeria who received the resveratrol compound typically lived 30 percent longer than those who received drugs without resveratrol. Furthermore, scientists found that healthy mice also found concentrated treatments of resveratrol to be beneficial. "We actually delayed the onset of aging and extended the healthy lifespan," Associate professor Zhou Zhongjun said of the mice. While these drugs may be a ways from being tested on humans, there's hope that it can help both those suffering from progeria as well as healthy individuals.