UK scientists have developed an experimental drug called 991 that extends the lifespan of yeast, worms and flies by up to 25 per cent. The drug works by activating a protein called AMPK, which acts as the body's "fuel gauge" and helps cells conserve and produce energy during stress, exercise or fasting. The breakthrough raises hopes that humans could eventually benefit from anti-ageing treatments, which would be transformative given that ageing is a major risk factor for diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia.

The research involved directly targeting AMPK in three distantly related species, chosen specifically because they have short lifespans that allow for rapid scientific progress. Scientists are encouraged by the results and plan to test the drug in mice next, with a view to eventual human trials. The fact that similar AMPK-activating drugs have already demonstrated good safety profiles in trials for metabolic conditions suggests that such treatments could potentially be used more widely in medicine in the future.