LIVING TO BE 180

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 11

LIVING TO BE 180

SOVIET SCIENTIST'S HOPE

According to the Soviet scientist, Mr P. P. Lazarev, men will some day live to the fine old age of one hundred and eighty. The well-known Russian scientist, M. Mechnikov, attributed the breakdown of the human organism to the poisoning of the tissues as a result of the accumulation of poisqns in the large intestine. He thought that life could be prolonged through the counteracting of the poisons generated in the alimentary canal by the eating of large quantities of sour milk—a favourite item in Russian meals.

Later research, however, showed that M. Mechnikov greatly overestimated the role of intestinal bacteria in bringing on old age. Using his own body for his experiments, M. Brown-Sequard, the eminent French physiologist, attempted 1 to stave off old age by injecting into his veins extracts from the sex glands of animals. While this treatment produced favourable results in his own case, its application on a large scale achieved too few successes to substantiate the, validity of the method. Other theories were propounded, explaining old age by physical and chemical changes in the Organism, such as the deterioration of the blood vessels. LENINGRAD RESEARCH. The investigations of the Institute of Experimental Medicine in Leningrad, under the guidance of M. Lazarev, have opened up new vistas. Having demonstrated, that the important organs of the body are sensitive ,in proportion to the sensitivity of the higher nervous centres, M.. Lazarev is now engaged in seeking a; meahs-of maintaining the higher nervous system at a high level of sensitivity. Such a discovery would serve to prolong the vitality of the important bodily organs and consequently prolong life. Under observation at the. institute are a number of centenarians, ’ the oldest of whom is 113. There are also a number of interesting subjects under 100 years of age, among whom is a particularly striking case of a man. of 92, now in perfect health, although an habitual drinker until the age of 80. In addition to the role of social factors, the study of aged people; indicates that heredity plays an important part in longevity. The majority of the group under examination have numerous relatives who have lived much beyond the usual span. This opens up the possibility of increasing the longevity of the human race through proper eugenic selection. A QUESTIONNAIRE. r One of the most interesting problems connected with the study of old age. is the relation - between mental and creative faculties and age; Although aged individuals are more - frequently found among people engaged in manual labour, there are many examples of bid age among outstanding scientists, thinkers, and writers. In order to elucidate this relationship further, the institute has got out a questionnaire, which will be circulated among well-known scientists, writers, artists, and old workers. The answers received _ should do much to answer the question why the creative faculties remain intact and even improve in spite of the physical decline of the body.—‘ Observer.’