Oxford University scientists have found that nematode worms fed nutrients reinforced with natural isotopes had life spans extended by 10 percent.

With humans expected to routinely live until 100, this could add a further 10 years to human life.

Food enhanced with isotopes is thought to produce bodily constituents and DNA more resistant to detrimental processes, like free radical attack. The isotopes replace atoms in susceptible bonds, making these bonds stronger, and thus more stable, so it should be possible to slow down the process of oxidation and aging.

Aubrey de Grey, the Cambridge-based gerontologist, says it could be very relevant to the rates of several chemical and enzymatic processes relevant to aging.