Looking for Eternal Youth? Answers about Aging in Drexel Medcast®

Online, October 1, 2009 (Newswire.com) - PHILADELPHIA (October 1, 2009) - What makes our bodies more susceptible to diseases as we age? And how can we extend our lifespan so we can life long, healthy lives? Those are the questions addressed in the October edition of the Drexel Medcast®, a monthly medical podcast with leading academic physicians and scientists from the Drexel University College of Medicine faculty.

This month features an interview with Christian Sell, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Sell is a noted aging and longevity research scientist who studies how the mechanisms of certain hormones and proteins contribute to cellular damage and degeneration, which leads to disease and death.

"We know we are susceptible to a multitude of diseases as we age," said Sell. "What our research is trying to sort out is how hormones affect certain proteins which we believe are problematic and lead to cellular damage. In other words, what are the processes that increase our vulnerability to diseases as we age?"

During the interview, Sell addresses the impact of both genetics and environment on a person's lifespan. "One of the more powerful interventions to extend lifespan is reducing food intake in many species, so there is this 'eat less, live longer' theory."

As for living longer, he adds: "I think it's probably conceivable within the next 50 years that people will live comfortably into their 90's."

To listen to the Drexel Medcast™ featuring Dr. Christian Sell, visit www.drexelmed.edu.

About Drexel University College of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine has established some of the most highly innovative and rigorous academic programs available today, incorporating the University's expertise in engineering and technology into traditional medical training. The College of Medicine is home to one of the nation's leading centers for spinal cord research; one of the foremost centers for malaria study; and a highly regarded HIV/AIDS program with extensive NIH-funded research in prevention and therapeutic interventions. Drexel University College of Medicine has been designated a Vanguard National Center of Excellence in Women's Health by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and is highly respected in numerous other specialties including autism, cardiology, minimally invasive surgery, and toxicology. Visit www.drexelmed.edu for more information.