Chronic diet restriction (DR) was the first experimental manipulation reported to extend lifespan in a mammalian species. Subsequently, the discovery of genetic mutations that can extend lifespan made a gene-centric scientific community less skeptical of the field. The recent discoveries of drugs that extend lifespan or improve age-related dysfunction has got the attention of Venture Capitalists and Government Leaders. I will present vignettes of the work by our group and by others to illustrate what we have learned about aging and what we still need to learn.

Dr. James Nelson is a Professor at University of Texas Health Science Center.