Life Extension

Extension of the life span has become an increasingly prominent subject in the media. Vitamins, nutrient supplements, minerals, and skin creams have been aggressively promoted as being able to delay aging and prolong life. Books on longevity and life extension aimed at promoting such products have made several best-seller lists. A recent Congressional hearing on medical quackery devoted considerable time and effort to investigating anti-aging "cures." 1 Unfortunately, there have been few attempts to examine the scientific basis for the claims of life extension made by promoters of such products. This article will examine several interventions that have been proposed to . . .