Alcohol makes worms live longer

Despite it widespread allure, most people are aware that alcohol isn’t very good for you. But, in the case of a tiny worm (Caenorhabditis elegans), the demon drink has quite the opposite effect, in some cases doubling its life span.

Biochemists at UCLA, US, were experimenting with the worm, often used in the study of ageing, to test its reaction to cholesterol. The team discovered that after
consuming the substance, the worms were surviving for up to 20 to 40 days, far longer than the usual 15.

However, after further tests, the team discovered that it wasn't the cholesterol, but the ethanol it been dissolved in that was giving the worms their longevity. Even more surprisingly, the ethanol had such a profound effect on the worms; it still worked at a dilution of 1 part in 20,000, 20 times weaker than when it was originally administered as a solvent.

The team have no idea why this effect occurs and when levels of ethanol were increased, the worms eventually died. But, caenorhabditis elegans shares about half its genes with humans, so this research could potentially benefit us in the future.

Even so, those of you who enjoy a tipple needn’t get too excited, as a positive dose would only equate to around a bottle of beer diluted in 450 litres of water.

image: Brian Grone