The quest to live for ever is as old as life itself and tonight you can find out how it’s possible. Well, nearly...
BBC2's Horizon at 9pm examines three isolated communities on the Japanese island of Okinawa, Loma Linda in California and Ovodda in the mountains of Sardinia where their members are living longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on earth.
Here are just a few of their secrets:-
Hormones and diet
In Okinawa, they actually age more slowly than almost anyone else on earth thanks to the hormone DHEA, which decreases at a much slower rate here than anywhere else.
Diet is also an issue with the islanders eating until they are only 80% full and food generally consisting of tofu, soya and a good range of fruit and vegetables.
Interbreeding!
In Sardinia, the results are much weirder with scientists discovering that a long history of erm, interbreeding (!) has resulted in a limited gene pool with beneficial results. You might not want to try this one at home.
Religion
Meanwhile in Loma Linda, it’s all about faith!
Many of the townsfolk are Seventh Day Adventist, a religion whose members live up to 10 years longer than anyone else due to a policy of vegetarianism, no smoking and no drinking.
Go figure!
Find out more at: BBC News Or: BBC Science & Nature