Google's Fountain of Youth?

Geneticist Cynthia Kenyon is heading to Google

Kenyon will join Calico - Google's mysterious health venture.

Stephanie M. Lee writing in The Chronicle:

"Google has revealed little about Calico since the search giant formed the independent company in September, except that it wants to slow aging and fight age-related diseases. As Google CEO Larry Page once put it, Calico is truly a 'moon shot.'"

Cynthia Kenyon, Ph.D. Credit: UCSF

Kenyon is a pioneer in the genetics of aging.

Her role at Google's Calico? Not detailed.

Her background may provide some clues, quoting:

"'Age is the single largest risk factor for an enormous number of diseases,' she explained to The Chronicle in 2005. 'So if you can essentially postpone aging, then you can have beneficial effects on a whole wide range of disease.'"

Calico is collecting scientific heavyweights.

Its CEO is Arthur Levinson - the board chair of Genentech and Apple.

Sounds like a health "Skunk Works."

Fountain of Youth-like stuff.

One more thing from reporter Lee about Kenyon:

"So deep is her dedication that she avoids bread and sugar - except dark chocolate - because studies show they speed up aging."

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