Why do we get old and sick?

Raj Persaud talks to Professor Volter Longo about his new book 'The Longevity Diet.' 

Could you live to 120 years old? Is all disease just a manifestation of a more fundamental biological process referred to aging? Why do we get old and get sick? 

Professor Longo's research suggests that living to 120 is entirely possible and that the average human lifespan could end up being 110 if the right diet and lifestyle is followed.

Dr Valter Longo was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1967. He is one of the world leaders in the field of aging and aging-related diseases and has published over 120 papers which include the discovery of some of the genes responsible for longevity and the identification of a genetic mutation protecting humans from some of the most common diseases.

He is currently a professor of Biogerontology and Director of the Longevity Institute in the School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. 

 This is his first commercial book.

Valter Longo, PhD, is the Edna Jones Professor in Gerontology and Professor in Biological Science.

He is also the Director of the USC Longevity Institute. He is interested in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of aging in yeast, mice and humans by using genetics and biochemistry techniques.

He is also interested in identifying the molecular pathways conserved from simple organisms to humans that can be modulated to protect against multiple stresses and treat or prevent cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease and other diseases of aging.

The focus is on the signal transduction pathways that regulate resistance to oxidative damage in yeast and mice.