Questão 45 - Unit-SE Medicina - Caderno 1 2014

TEXTO: 

 

 

  Scientists believe they have found an area within 

the brain that controls the ageing process. In a series of 

experiments on mice, they found that changes to this 

region could shorten or lengthen the animal’s lifespan. 

[5] The study is published in the journal Nature. 

  The hypothalamus is a small structure located deep 

within the brain. It plays a critical role in controlling 

growth, reproduction and metabolism — but now it could 

hold the key to ageing too. 

[10]   A team of scientists in the US looked at this region 

of the brain in mice. They found that blocking a chemical 

in this area increased the animals’ lifespan. Healthy mice 

typically live for between 600 to 1000 days. 

  But the rodents in the study were living about a fifth 

[15] longer without suffering problems that are common in 

old age, such as muscle loss or memory problems. 

Conversely, when the scientists boosted the substance 

in the hypothalamus, the animal’s lifespan was 

shortened. 

[20]   The researchers now want to fully understand the 

biological mechanism behind this process. They say 

the work could provide new insights into age - related 

diseases — and in the future even raise the prospect of 

drugs that could increase our lifespan. 

Disponível em: <www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/05/130503_witn_ageing.shtml>. Acesso em: 12 out. 2013.

 

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