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Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies

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San Antonio Express-News: Scientists spill secrets of naked rat

Hairless and buck-toothed, naked mole rats are pretty ugly by human standards.

But they have one beautiful trait that humans crave — a seeming fountain of youth that lets them live 10 times longer than similar animals, free of common age-related conditions that can weaken or slow them down.

San Antonio researchers who are fascinated with the mole rats say they have unmasked molecular machinery that appears to contribute to the animals' longevity. The mole rats' cells are very efficient at protecting stable, functioning proteins and getting rid of the proteins that are damaged.
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Drs. Richardson and Austad Featured in Texas Emmy Award-Winning Film on Aging Research

'Aging with Dignity' features Barshop Institute
State of Tomorrow™ was recognized for three episodes of the 13-part series including one titled “Aging with Dignity” that featured the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The episode, the ninth in the series, included discussions with Barshop Institute Director Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D. and Steven N. Austad, Ph.D.
For the series' extended interview with Dr. Austad, link to
 "Can Science Slow the Aging Process?"

From the Barshop Institute Laboratories: Damaged protein may impact large percentage of ALS cases

SAN ANTONIO (Oct. 13, 2008) — In the past two decades, great strides have been made to explain the genetic basis of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Defects in a gene called SOD1 are now firmly linked to a type of ALS that is passed down through families.

Barshop Institute faculty draw millions in career development awards

Up-and-coming faculty of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio’s Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies have attracted career development awards this year totaling $2.2 million to support research of the basic biology of aging. The awards and grants complement many others won by the institute in 2008.

Barshop Institute director receives British gerontology medal

SAN ANTONIO (July 17, 2008) — The British Society for Research on Agingpresented a Texas scientist with its highest honor. . .Arlan G.Richardson, Ph.D., director of the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute forLongevity and Aging Studies at The University of Texas Health ScienceCenter at San Antonio, received the Lord Cohen Medal for Services toGerontology during the society’s annual scientific meeting July 17 inBrighton, England.

Barshop Institute director to receive aging society’s top award

Arlan G. Richardson, Ph.D., who directs the Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Irving S. Wright Award of Distinction from the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR).

Volunteers sought for study of muscle, aging, insulin resistance

Why do insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes increase with age? The answer may be found in the biochemical makeup of the muscles.

Hairless tunnel diggers are teaching scientists a thing or two about aging

With virtually hairless bodies, pink wrinkled skin and buckteeth worse than Bugs Bunny, naked mole-rats hardly are contenders for America's next top model.

But if people were more like naked mole-rats, well, we all probably would live longer.

See all news stories for 2008


The%20Sam%20and%20Ann%20Barshop%20InstituteThe Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies

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Updated: 8/22/2008
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