Key points from article :
An anti-aging gene discovered in a population of centenarians has been shown to rewind the heart's biological age by 10 years.
Scientists believe the gene helps to keep hearts young by protecting against diseases linked to aging, such as heart failure.
Researchers demonstrate that one of these healthy mutant genes can protect cells collected from patients with heart failure.
Paolo Madeddu, one of the study's authors, explains: "The heart and blood vessel function is put at stake as we age. ... eating well and exercising delay the heart's aging clock."
"In addition, having good genes inherited from parents can help to stay young and healthy ... mutant anti-aging gene we have studied here on human cells and older mice," he added.
Researchers hope to test its effectiveness in clinical trials on patients with heart failure.
The study is published in Cardiovascular Research and led by scientists at the University of Bristol.
