The Aroma of Eternity: How The Scent of Dangerous Substances May Extend Life
The Aroma of Eternity: How The Scent of Dangerous Substances May Extend Life Researchers using nematode worms discovered that exposure to a particular chemical generated by pathogenic bacteria caused the worms to activate a brain circuit. The worms’ longevity increased as a result of this activation, and protein aggregation—which is thought to play a role in the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases—was decreased. An organism’s ability to defend itself against dangerous substances and prolong its life can be inferred from its response to offensive smells. In the case of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes, at least, this is what occurs. Nematodes, often known as roundworms or threadworms, are not even remotely similar to humans, yet for the past 50 years or more, they have been utilised as models in biological research. A short lifespan of 17 days on average, which is perfect for ageing studies, a simple nervous system, and a small number of cells and genes—many of which perform the sam...