The secrets of external youth

Four “Father Time” genes that help determine how fast we age have been uncovered by scientists.

The ageing genes are switched on or off by environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet, and may be programmed from an early age.

Knowing how the genes are altered could pave the way to new generations of anti-ageing drugs, researchers believe.

Scientists already knew that “epigenetic” changes – chemical alterations to DNA made by external factors in the environment – are important to ageing.

The research, is published in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics.