University of Oviedo (Spain) researchers have found that two common drugs–statins (used to reduce cholesterol) and bisphosphonates (used to curb osteoporosis)–have reversed the effects in mice of progeria, a rare genetic disease that causes premature aging.

Progeria accelerates aging from early childhood and is usually fatal before puberty. It is caused by gene mutations that disrupt production of the protein prelamin A, found inside the nuclei of cells. The damaged protein binds to molecular fragments called farnesyls, and those bind to the nuclear membrane, causing the build-up of protein that underlies the disease. The two drugs reduce farnesyl levels, and when given to progeroid mice, the combination reduced aging symptoms.

Previous attempts to stop farnesylation involved inhibiting the enzyme that attaches farnesyls to prelamin A.