Singapore – Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia presents an all-new series, Turn Back the Clock. Turn Back the Clock is a five-part experimental series exploring the possibility of countering, even reversing the effects of ageing. The series re-stages the landmark “Counterclockwise” study by award-winning social psychologist Dr Ellen Langer in 1979, where she found that psychological lifestyle changes (when subjects were asked to live life as though they were younger) can bring about positive physiological ones.

In short, if you think yourself as young, you can actually make yourself physically and mentally younger. Turn Back the Clock invites five well-loved Singaporeans, who are currently in their 70s and 80s, to live together for a week, the same way they would back in their heyday in 1977.

The participants are Ms Asmah Laili, Mr Nadasan Chandra, Mr Harry Chin, Ms Nancy Tan and Ms Krishnavani Narayanan who lived, talked and exercised as though they were back in the days of their prime. A battery of medical tests at the end of the week revealed that all five participants fared better both psychologically and physically. The series follows expert presenter, social psychologist from National University of Singapore Dr Grace Lee, as she explores the complex psychology of ageing. (Refer to the Annex for biographies of Dr Grace Lee and the five participants.)

A special screening of the first episode of Turn Back the Clock has been organised for invited guests and members of the media before its telecast on Channel NewsAsia. Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of Health Chee Hong Tat, was the special guest at the screening event. Turn Back the Clock will telecast on Channel NewsAsia. The series is also available as video-on-demand on www.toggle.sg and www.channelnewsasia.com/tv.