新型藥物有望延長人類壽命至120歲

It sounds like something from a science fiction film, but a pill to counter the ageing process could become a reality.

這聽起來有點像科幻片的橋段，但可延緩衰老進程的藥物有望變爲現實。

Scientists in Russia are testing a new formula, which they claim can delay the start of the ageing process.

俄羅斯的科學家正在試驗一種新配方，他們宣稱該配方可以延緩衰老進程。

They hope the tablet, which is being tested on rats, mice, fish and dogs, will allow people to live to at least 120.

他們希望這種正在老鼠、小鼠、魚以及狗身上試驗的藥片能夠將人類的壽命至少延長到120歲。

Researcher Dr Maxim Skulachev, from the Moscow State University project, said: 'A lot of aging diseases developed much slower.'

莫斯科國立大學項目研究教授馬克西姆·斯古拉喬夫（Maxim Skulachev）稱：“大量的衰老病症進展更緩慢。”

The scientists are using a 'new type of antioxidant', which they hope will impact on on the mitochondria, the energy-producing part of cells, which is seen as triggering ageing.

科學家正在使用一種“新型抗氧化劑”，他們希望會影響線粒體的結構。線粒體是細胞中的能量產生部分，被認爲會引發人體老化。

'The mitochondria are to be blamed for heart attacks, they are linked to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's,' he said.

斯古拉喬夫說：“線粒體會引發心臟病，也與類似阿爾茲海默症（Alzheimer's ）和帕金森氏綜合症（Parkinson's）有關。”

He pointed to the naked mole-rat of east Africa renowned for longevity and evidently immune to cancer.

他指出東非的裸鼴鼠以長壽和明顯對癌症免疫而聞名。

A realistic goal was to aim for a life span for humans of 120, and anti-ageing medication was 'technically possible', he told Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

他在接受《莫斯科共青團報》（Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper）採訪時表示，現實的目標是將人類的壽命延長到120歲，抗衰老藥物“在技術上是可行的”。

'I don't believe we will be able to live to 800,' he said.

“我不相信我們能活到800歲的高齡。”

'Most probably, some new disease will emerge, let's say, a typical disease for a 120-year-old. That was the case with cancer, which was a rare disease when ancient people died much younger.'

“但很可能的是出現一些新疾病。比如說，120歲老人的典型病——癌症。以前人們的壽命較短時，很少有人患有這種病。”

The Russian tests have not led to an significant life span increase, but delayed the onset of ageing, he said.

他說，他們的試驗在延長壽命上還未取得突破性進展，但已經延緩了衰老進程。

'If it turns out that diseases develop more slowly, our idea to fight aging through mitochondria is the right one, added Dr Skulachev, who has been working to perfect his treatment for decades.

“如果證明疾病發展的更爲緩慢，我們通過線粒體抗擊衰老的想法就是正確的。”斯古拉喬夫補充道。他已經在完善抗衰老試驗上研究了數十年。

'It will be possible to postpone old age.'

“延緩衰老是可能的。”