While this sounds great, there are obviously many factors that contribute to aging. SENS identifies 7 here (with mitochondrial decline being only one):
http://www.sens.org/research/introduction-to-sens-research
I'm curious what the SENS people would say about this study and if it helps at all in their model of aging. Without really looking into it too much, this could be a contributing factor to the mitochondrial decline aging pathway:
http://www.sens.org/research/introduction-to-sens-research/mito
Whatever this means, it still seems sensational to say it's really "setting back the clock".
That said, I'm really curious to see if anything comes of this!
This seems like an advance in understanding, even if it doesn't lead directly to a treatment.
News stories:
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/20/anti-ageing-human-trials?CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25445748
Abstract of the paper, actual paper behind a paywall:
http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867413015213?cc=y
Relatively solid stories like this help raise my estimate that significant life extension is possible in our lifetimes. The likelihood seems to be that it won't be a "magic pill" but a combination of therapies.
If nothing else, it's another reason to eat healthy and stay in shape.