FOGIE WATCH

THE STATESMAN AND PHILOSOPHER, CICERO, WHO LIVED FROM 106 TO 143 B.C. AND DIED AT AN AGE WHICH WE TODAY CONSIDER YOUNG, KNEW THAT "OLD AGE IS THE CONSUMMATION OF LIFE, JUST AS OF A PLAY." HE CONCEDED THAT THE CURTAIN MUST EVENTUALLY, ON COURSE, COME DOWN.

BUT MODERN RESEARCHERS LOOKING FOR THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH IGNORE THE WISDOM OF THE ROMAN FOGY, CICERO AS THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE MONEY TO FUND STUDIES THAT AIM AT PROLONGING LIFE AND RETARDING AGING. SUCH AGENDA-DRIVEN RESEARCH IS POCKETBOOK INSPIRED AND UTOPIAN.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD WATCH OLD FOGIES. EVEN THOUGH THE EXPERTS CLAIM THAT RED WINE RETARDS AGING, SOME SENIORS WHO DESPISE WINE - RED OR WHITE - AS REFRESHMENT, MERELY SUBSTITUTE TEA, COFFEE, JUICE, POP OR HARD LIQUOR TO NO ILL EFFECT AND TO NO CURTAILMENT OF LIFE - ONCE THEY REACH AN ADVANCED AGE.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD WATCH OLD FOGIES. EVEN THOUGH THE ELITE SCIENTISTS CLAIM THAT A 30% REDUCTION OF THE INTAKE OF CALORIES, FOOD, SLOWS AGING, MOST ELDERLY INSTINCTIVELY CUT BACK ON ENGORGEMENT AT MEALS AS THEY SLOW DOWN LATER IN LIFE.

RESEARCHERS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANTI-AGING DRUGS, PILLS, POTION AND PLACEBOS AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE THAT PREVENTS DEBILITATION. BUT A LIFE SPAN IS NATURALLY DETERMINED IN A CREATURE. WHEN WILL WE FIND RESEARCHERS TO TALK TRUTH TO THE ANIMALS? TO GET THE MESSAGE THROUGH TO THE LAB MICE THAT OLD AGE IS INEVITABLE, THAT THE PLAY MUST END AND WHEN IT DOES, IT WILL NOT BE A FAT MOUSE THAT SINGS. OCTOGENARIANS - AND WE CAN STATISTICALLY EXPECT MOST AMERICANS TO LIVE 80 YEARS - WILL NOT GO OBESE INTO THE GOOD NIGHT.