Once injected, Duan and Li tested the mice and found that they could run farther, faster and longer than mice of the same age and sex.

Duan attributes this performance enhancement to the MCAT and believes the gene is responsible for removing toxic substances, known as free radicals, from the mitochondria, the power house of the cell.

By using this specific gene therapy vector, the virus, to introduce the longevity gene, Duan and Li opened the possibility of human treatment.

'Our results suggest similar therapy may one day improve the life quality of the elderly' Duan said. 'This could have important implications for many diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, heart disease, diabetes and neuro-degenerative diseases.'

The study was published in this week's edition of Public Library of Science-ONE.