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bee ]ast 200 years, people have begun to live longer and longer. This trend
more_economnically developed countries。and for some time there Was a
growng gap _between_the average_length of jife in rich countries and poor countries/Oyer
the Dast few decades、however。 many Poor countries have also made improvements and
they are now close to catching up with the wealthier ones. As a result every year there is
a 8rowing number of older people in countries all over the world.
It is a good thing that people are living longer, but it does have some diffcult
aSpects. One of these is that more and more people are suffering from diseases aSsociated
with getting older. The number of cases of high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and
other inesses is increasing, In Australia, for instance。 a recent report said fhat people, on
average, live 25 years longer than fhey did a hundred years ago.| Now, there are many
more people suffering from serious illnessesOne consequence 3S that each year countries
have to spend more and more on medical care foOr Older People. 4
IMany governments have begun to promote healthier lifestyles fo young people, such
as losing weight and exercising regularly。as a Way to preventiSerious illnesses、 However
as the body gets older, even people who haw have lived healthily are Hikely to become 井.
Recentiy。research has begun 10 shoW that 了 this is the result of people's DNA gsetting
older. When DNA breaks down, Important iR to control the body's functions is
lost. Eventually, serious imesses mmay OCCUT
However, David Sinclair,a researcher at the University oNew South Wales im
Australia,、 is working on a way to keep DNA healthy。 He used a chemical called
nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) to see 辻 he could reduce the efects of age on mice.
Mice thaf were given NMN became stronger and healthier than they, had been Showing
that the chemical was effective./He believes that one day this Lco
both longer and
make a medicine_for_hunaans. In this Way, Old people may be able to 1
healfhier lives.