Discovery to stop ageing

Scientists believe they have discovered how to stop the ageing process in humans.

"This could mean our skin, organs, everything in our body, does not age at all," said Dr Madalena Tarsounas of the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute.

"We are effectively stopping the clock and making these cells immortal," she said. At present, human cells can only divide a certain number of times before they die. The new technique places a tiny cap on the end of chromosomes, protecting the genetic DNA contained in cells so they can divide indefinitely - effectively making them immortal, it is claimed.

Dr Tarsounas said the key to the process was a molecule called RAD51D which is instrumental in cell death.

Controlling it may permit the development of treatments to halt ageing, or to kill off cancerous cells, she said.

"Potentially a therapy could be as straightforward as an injection to protect the cells," said Dr Tarsounas.

The research, to be published tomorrow in the journal Cell, was carried out with the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Such a breakthrough could also have huge implications for cancer sufferers. Cancer cells have been found to be immortal but it is hoped that the new understanding of general cell mortality may leading to treatments that can cause the death of cancer cells - halting the spread of tumours.

Dr Tarsounas estimates the discovery could provide a new route of attack for up to 10 per cent of tumours.

"Cancer has an amazing ability to shake off the shackles of ageing and death, which is one of the reasons why it can be so hard to treat," she said.

"Understanding how cancer cells remain eternally young has been a key focus of research for more than a decade, so it's particularly exciting to have made such a striking discovery."

Experts welcomed the research, although it is still largely theoretical. Dr Armand Leroi, an evolutionary ageing expert at Imperial College, said: "I think this is very exciting. We know this works in a lab, in a petri dish."

Health clubs dedicated to the over-50s emerged today as one of the latest ideas being considered by Saga to capture more of the "grey pound". The company announced the potential project - among a number under review - at the same time as results showed a 62.5 per cent rise in profits. Chief executive Andrew Goodsell said there were many potential opportunities in the health and well-being area, including health clubs and medical insurance.