An experiment on the genes of fruit flies by UCLA researchers may lead the way to extending human life by up to 30 percent, RT reported.

UCLA biologists activated a single gene, AMPK, and the result was an extended lifespan by almost one-third because it helped to eliminate "cellular garbage," which causes diseases such as Parkinson's.

The discovery is important because humans have the same gene, but it is currently "turned off."

The author of the research paper, which was published in early September in the scientific journal Cell Reports, said that instead of studying the diseases to find cures or ways to reverse their effects, it was more efficient to get to single common element.

"Instead of studying the diseases of aging -- Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes -- one by one, we believe it may be possible to intervene in the aging process and delay the onset of many of these diseases," David Walker, an associate professor of integrative biology and physiology at UCLA, wrote, according to RT.

The lab conducted an experiment on 100,000 fruit flies, since fruit flies have been genetically mapped allowing scientists to easily conduct controlled experiments.

The process to extend their lives was done by activating a process called autophagy, which is stimulated by AMPK, RT reported.

It is a process in which cells isolate and discard old, dysfunctional fragments, known as cellular garbage. Since the fragments can damage healthy cells, they can discard them on their own, thus the name autophagy, which is a Greek term for "eating oneself," RT reported.

The flies whose gene was activated in their intestines lived more than eight weeks, as opposed to the usual six weeks.

In addition, they were healthier for a longer time during their lifespans.

If this same result occurred in humans, the average U.S. life expectancy would increase from the current 78 to an average of 101 years old.