A million dollars for the secret of health and longevity
On September 9, a private investor and president of the California investment company Palo Alto Investors, Dr. Joon Yun, announced a competition between scientists engaged in the search for methods to combat aging. The two winners of the contest will share the "Palo Alto Longevity Prize" – a cash prize of $1 million in cash.
The prize is intended for research groups who will be the first to unravel the secrets of the fundamental property of the organism, known as "homeostatic potential". This term refers to the ability of the body's systems to maintain stability when exposed to stressful factors.
As the body ages, its ability to recover from illnesses, injuries and everyday stresses, such as lack of sleep, deteriorates. At a young age, blood pressure disorders and an increase in blood glucose are easily restored to normal values. However, as the homeostatic potential decreases with age, the body loses the ability to effectively eliminate such deviations, which leads to the development of diseases such as diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension.
According to the organizers of the contest announcement ceremony, in theory, an increase in homeostatic potential can increase a person's life expectancy up to 120 years.
One half of the prize will be awarded to researchers who have demonstrated the possibility of restoring the homeostatic parameters of the body of an old mammal to the levels characteristic of a young adult organism. The second half of the prize will be awarded to scientists who will be able to increase the life expectancy of a mammal by 50% compared to the generally recognized standard values by restoring the homeostatic potential. What kind of mammal it is, it is not said – perhaps the applicants for the prize can choose it themselves.
The purpose of the competition is to launch an initiative, the results of which will rejuvenate the adult body, possibly reducing the risk of age-related diseases and premature mortality, as well as increasing life expectancy.
The participants of the competition are not required to renounce intellectual property and disclose private information. They should independently seek funding for their research. To facilitate the search for financing, the organizers are negotiating with philanthropic investors, companies specializing in venture capital investments, private foundations and other potential sponsors.
To date, 11 research groups from the USA have applied to participate in the competition. Acceptance of applications continues.
Additional information can be found on the official website of the contest.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of Palo Alto Online:
$1 million Palo Alto Prize seeks to 'cure' aging.
12.09.2014