If an anti aging pill did exist, what would you want it to do? Magically fill in the wrinkles on your face? Let you eat and drink anything your heart desired without gaining any weight? Have the energy of a 25 year old?

And how would this anti aging pill work? What does it mean to create an anti aging effect or slow down the aging process? That's how the scientists talk about it.

What Do Scientists Agree On?

For 25 years, the Life Extension Foundation has been studying the latest developments in anti aging research. I have found them to be a great resource for they are truly up on what is working, what is theory and what has been debunked.

One area in which there is scientific agreement is that cutting down calories seems to stimulate an important anti aging gene called Sirtuin. When this gene kicks in it actually slows down the aging process by helping to protect the body from age related conditions (heart disease, cancer, diabetes) that wear the body down.

But eating less, actually being slightly hungry, getting those calories down by 15-30% for the rest of your life is REALLY NO FUN!

"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Julia Child

So, why is it that the French, who eat some of the richest food there is don't gain as much weight or suffer heart disease to the extent that Americans do? This conundrum has been referred to as "The French Paradox”. Their secret weapon… RED WINE.

You see, much of the heart damage occurs right after you eat a meal. This is when the bloodstream is saturated with fats and sugars and goes through inflammatory stress. It seems that the act of drinking red wine (as the French do) protects them.

Could it be that if we all just started drinking more red wine we, too, could lose weight and cut down heart disease? Does this mean that if you drink enough red wine you can switch on the Sirtuin gene? Watch Barbara Walter's interview with Dr. David Sinclair to learn just how much it's going to take.  

Good News For All Of Us!

In 2003, Harvard researcher, Dr. David Sinclair uncovered a molecule from red wine, called Resveratrol. This molecule actually searches out the Sirtuin gene and switches it on. Stimulate the gene Sirtuin that protects the body and you can add on a number of healthy years.

I'm certainly interested in that possiblilty. If it's true that I can still eat what I want, stay vital and live longer, I'm open to trying it. Perhaps Resveratrol could be one of the best anti aging products available.

Dr. David Sinclair, the Harvard reseacher who uncovered Resveratrol, joined forces with Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D. in 2004 to create the research company Sirtris. In 2008, the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) acquired Sirtris for $720 Million. Drs. David Sinclair and Christoph Westphal now devote all of their time and resources to the work of creating revolutionary medicines for diseases of aging.

ABC's Cynthia McFadden interviews the founders of Sirtris in the following video.

NPR's David Ewing Duncan, host of Biotech Nation thinks Resveratrol could become one of the best anti aging products ever developed.