Wrinkle banishing pills could also be key to beating ageing

Scientists claim that the pills for putting a stop to wrinkles and could also be the key to beating ageing.

In a breakthrough scientists have found that longer life was due to increase in the activity of genes that produce both collagen, that is also associated with young-looking skin and other proteins found in the body's "extra-cellular matrix" (ECM), the Daily Express reported.

This framework of scaffolding supports tissues, organs and bones.

The study conducted on tiny laboratory worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, focused on strategies known to boost the lifespan, including calorie restriction and use of the drug rapamycin.

Professor Keith Blackwell, from the Joslin (CORR) Diabetes Centre which is part of Harvard Medical School in the US, said that any longevity intervention that we looked at, increased the expression (activity) of collagen and other ECM genes, and enhanced ECM remodelling.

If the expression was interferes with, it meant interfering with the lifespan extension, and over-express some of these genes made the worm actually live a little bit longer, he added.

Dr Blackwell said that it was possible that this mechanism was relevant to people as well.

This has been the first time scientists looked at the possibility that ECM remodelling might be a defense against ageing, instead of protecting and regenerating cells.

The team said that it may lead to cosmetic products that also enhance overall health and the development of improved anti-ageing drugs that would put off the development or slow the progression of age-related chronic disease.

Dr Blackwell said that inner beauty was the richest beauty, and people should start wanting to look young with the inside.

The findings are published in Nature journal's online edition.