TEXTO:
Scientists believe they have found an area within
the brain that controls the ageing process. In a series of
experiments on mice, they found that changes to this
region could shorten or lengthen the animal’s lifespan.
[5] The study is published in the journal Nature.
The hypothalamus is a small structure located deep
within the brain. It plays a critical role in controlling
growth, reproduction and metabolism — but now it could
hold the key to ageing too.
[10] A team of scientists in the US looked at this region
of the brain in mice. They found that blocking a chemical
in this area increased the animals’ lifespan. Healthy mice
typically live for between 600 to 1000 days.
But the rodents in the study were living about a fifth
[15] longer without suffering problems that are common in
old age, such as muscle loss or memory problems.
Conversely, when the scientists boosted the substance
in the hypothalamus, the animal’s lifespan was
shortened.
[20] The researchers now want to fully understand the
biological mechanism behind this process. They say
the work could provide new insights into age - related
diseases — and in the future even raise the prospect of
drugs that could increase our lifespan.
Disponível em: <www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130503witnageing.shtml>. Acesso em: 12 out. 2013.
In the experiments on mice mentioned in the text, the scientists discovered that these animals
