Retired naval officer Joseph Dituri was asked to stay underwater for over three months as a requirement for a path-breaking study.
Scientists wanted to know the effects of living underwater in a pressurised environment on the human body. And guess what, scientists were shocked to learn that Dituri had turned ’10 years younger’ when he stepped out of his compact pod, after having stayed over three months in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.
What changes were noticed?
After medical assessments, it was revealed that Dituri’s telomeres, the DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes that typically shrink with age, became 20 per cent longer than three months earlier.
Apart from that, his stem cell count had also gone up, with his overall health witnessing a remarkable transformation.
Dituri also experienced an enhanced sleep quality. His cholesterol levels dropped by 72 points, and his inflammatory markers were cut in half.
Doctors said these changes occurred due to the underwater pressure, which is known to have many beneficial effects on the body.
Dituri later spoke about why people needed such experiences.
“You need one of these places that is cut off from outside activity. Send people down here for a two-week vacation, where they get their feet scrubbed, relax and can experience the benefit of hyperbaric medicine,” he was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror, a British tabloid.
He said that he also experienced major improvements in his metabolism.
During his time underwater, he said he would work out for over an hour, five days a week, using only his exercise bands.
Joseph Dituri achieved another major feat during his 93-day endeavour. He shattered the previous world record for underwater habitation, which was 73 days.
(With inputs from agencies)
