Longevity Science: True or False?

Q1. True or false: Ordinary antioxidant supplements such as vitamins C and E and beta-carotene have convincingly extended lifespan in animal models.
- True
- False
- Only in human studies
- Only when combined with exercise
Answer: False[[cite:1]][[cite:2]]. NIA reports that these ordinary antioxidants had not convincingly extended lifespan in animal-model experiments, even though oxidative stress is an important aging factor[[cite:3]][[cite:4]].
Q2. True or false: Caloric restriction has extended lifespan and reduced signs of disease in several laboratory organisms.
- True
- False
- Only in humans
- Only in organisms with no nervous system
Answer: True[[cite:5]][[cite:6]]. In studies of organisms including yeast, nematodes, fruit flies, mice, and rats, eating fewer calories produced longevity and health benefits[[cite:7]][[cite:8]].
Q3. What did the CALERIE trial show about calorie restriction in healthy adults?
- It proved that calorie restriction extends human lifespan
- It slowed one biological-aging measure, but did not prove longer human survival
- It had no effect on any biological-aging measure
- It extended lifespan only in laboratory animals
Answer: It slowed one biological-aging measure, but did not prove longer human survival[[cite:9]][[cite:10]][[cite:11]][[cite:12]]. The trial found an approximately 2% to 3% slower pace on the DunedinPACE DNA-methylation measure, but it did not show that participants lived longer or developed fewer age-related diseases[[cite:13]][[cite:14]][[cite:15]].
Q4. True or false: Rapamycin has been proven to extend lifespan in healthy humans.
- True
- False
- Only when prescribed for transplant patients
- Yes, but only after one year
Answer: False[[cite:16]][[cite:17]][[cite:18]]. Rapamycin extends lifespan in many mouse studies, but human lifespan benefits remain unproven; its longevity use is off-label and its long-term clinical benefits have not been established[[cite:19]][[cite:20]][[cite:21]].
Q5. What is the basic aim of a senolytic treatment?
- To remove senescent cells
- To increase calorie intake
- To replace all adult stem cells
- To prevent every cell from dividing
Answer: To remove senescent cells[[cite:22]][[cite:23]]. Senolytics are designed to selectively remove senescent cells, which have stopped proliferating; some approaches have extended lifespan or healthspan in mice, but convincing human lifespan evidence is not established[[cite:24]][[cite:25]].
Q6. According to the National Institute on Aging, how much sleep do older adults generally need each night?
- About 3 to 5 hours
- About 5 to 6 hours
- About 7 to 9 hours
- More than 12 hours
Answer: About 7 to 9 hours[[cite:26]][[cite:27]]. NIA generally recommends 7 to 9 hours for older adults and advises addressing problems such as insomnia or sleep apnea that interfere with rest[[cite:28]][[cite:29]].

Longevity Science: True or False?

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