Have we finally found the fountain of youth? A Harvard study finds that an enzyme, when administered to mice – reversed the aging process and found that the enlarged brain had shrunk, organs had atrophied and the sense of smell had vibrantly returned.

The initial experiment was to find if the process of aging can be stopped or slowed down in order to allow people live healthier and more productive lives. What they found was shocking.

“We were expecting to slow or perhaps stabilize the aging process. Instead, we saw a dramatic reversal in the symptoms of aging.”

, according to Dr. Ronald DePinho, director of the Belfer Institute at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who authored the paper in the Journal of Nature.

The mice used for the experiment are mice who are in the brink of dying. When the enzymes were introduced, they saw a significant reversal of aging.

It had to do with the mice’s telomeres (the tip of our chromosomes). As we age, the telomeres part of our chromosose deteriorates and thus resulting in many of the symptoms of aging such as loss of memory, decrease in energy and the like.

The enzymes called telomerase was introduced to the aging mice. After its introduction, the mice’s telomeres was rebuilt as if they were new.

DePinho was quick to point out however that the telomeres is only one factor in aging and that we should not jump into conclusion that it is the only thing that we need to regenerate in order to reverse the aging process.

It is a very interesting research to say the least. We could be eons away from discovering the fountain of youth but it definitely is a great start.