老鼠的衰老跡象得到逆轉 人類還會遠嗎?

Scientists revealed in a groundbreaking study that they have successfully slowed aging process in mice, and they're hoping the development will lead to an anti-ageing pill that would work on humans.

科學家們在一項突破性的研究中發現，他們已經成功地延緩了老鼠衰老的進程，他們希望這一進展能帶來一種對人類起作用的抗衰老藥物。

In a five-year study, published in journal Cell, researchers report that they have found a molecule that essentially reactivates faltering blood flow in elderly mice, Time Magazine reports.

據《時代週刊》報道，研究人員在《細胞》雜誌上發表了一項爲期五年的研究報告，稱他們已經發現了本質上可以重新激活年老老鼠不穩定血流的一種分子。

Compromised blood flow is a major component of ageing, as it deprives tissues and organs, including the brain, of the nutrients and oxygen they need to function.

血液老化是衰老的根源，因爲它剝奪了需要發揮作用的組織和器官（包括大腦）所需的營養和氧氣。

The compound, called nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a form of vitamin B3 that is naturally produced by the body, was fed to the 20-month-old mice, an age comparable to 70 years in people.

一種叫做煙酰胺單核苷酸（NMN）的化合物被餵給了20個月大（相當於70歲的人類）的老鼠。NMN是身體自然生成的維生素B3的一種形式。

After being treated with NMN for two months, it increased muscular blood flow, enhanced physical performance and endurance, and the older mice eventually became as fit and strong as the younger ones.

在接受NMN治療兩個月後，老鼠肌肉的血流量增加了，體力和耐力也增強了，年老的老鼠最終變得和年輕的老鼠一樣健康強壯。

Specifically, researchers found the treadmill time of the mice increased by 60 percent in comparison with other animals, which means the pill could mimic the benefits of exercise.

具體來說，研究人員發現，和其他動物相比，這些老鼠在跑步機上的時間增加了60%，這意味着該化學物質可以擬態運動的益處。