Mankind’s quest to slow the aging process has a new ally: Alaskan sled dogs. Nearly 100 former elite canine athletes are living out their days at Cornell University as part of a study that is not only expected to extend their lives, but one day may also help scientists slow aging in humans.
The dogs, former competitive sled racers who are now between the ages of nine and 13, are testing a drug that inhibits an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that holds promise to mitigate aging and extend their lives. The project serves as a proof of principle for whether reverse transcriptase inhibitors could be an elixir. If confirmed, new finely tuned drugs could be developed for both dogs and humans.
The research is supported by the Vaika Foundation, a non-for-profit aimed at extending canine health and well-being and is led by researchers from Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Cornell University. Join Heather Huson and John Loftus, the co-leaders of this unique and exciting research project at Cornell University. We'll have a few of the dogs in studio with us to discuss their athletic retirement.
