Human beings age and they have since the beginning of time, but it remains an unsolved mystery. This enigma has remained in the dark until the recent innovations technologies have shed some light on this elusive topic; cells are the key to figuring out why humans age. Aging seems to be a relatively simple process, but the more it is studied, it is evident that it is rather complex. There are a myriad of factors that contribute to aging, but none of them can single handedly answer the question of why humans age. This age long question is at the forefront of medical research. As a result, discoveries are frequently made, which contribute to the ever growing pool of knowledge. Perhaps in time, by researching this topic, the human lifespan will lengthen and the diseases that often plague the elderly can be prevented or subdued to a greater extent. Furthermore, human aging is proven to be closely linked with illnesses such as cancer, which is why so many world class scientists are pursuing this topic. Interestingly enough, there is no universal theory that is widely accepted by the scientific community; however, there are many theories that credibly explain the science behind aging. Aging is a subject that should be studied because it directly benefits many lives, and has tangible results. As medical and scientific equipment begins to evolve, many interesting discoveries have been made over decades of meticulous research. These discoveries enable scientists to build on their knowledge and come up with the theories that they do. For example, the discovery of telomeres was a monumental step forward in this field. Telomeres are protective structures on the ends of DNA strands. These structures gradually shorten to a point where the... ... middle of paper ... ...y are meant to do so. Other theories such as the free radical theory have more scientific evidence. A molecule produced by the digestive system, specifically originating in the mitochondria [Nelson, Nathan C. Nelson Department of Physics, Ohio State University]. These rogue radical molecules can destroy healthy cells, which contributes to the death of the entire organism. There are some older theories that date further back, such as the “Error and Repairs Theory, [Dr. Leslie Orgel, Salk Institute], which theorizes that through the process of cell division, too many deoxyribonucleic acid errors are produced for the organism to continue carrying out all life processes. Aging is a subject that is worth pursuing, especially as the baby boomers generation grows older. It is important that medical technology is able to keep up with the demands of the aging population.
Common sense seems to dictate that we are all going to die one day. As we all get older we crave to keep our youth, and to stay young forever is the ultimate dream. The thought of a possible immortality is just an added benefit. Even though we have strived towards this goal for centuries, have we obtained advances in successfully staying young forever? In Bill Gifford’s book “Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (Or Die Trying)” he explores these ideas of life and aging further. In this novel, he goes on a journey to try and debunk the mysteries and questions behind the new science of aging. He gathers information from tests and scientists from around the country to discover what really works to prevent or delay aging and what is just a hopeful hoax. He helps us figure out why we age and why aging
In current society, cancer is one of the most fatal and prevalent diseases to exist. However, new research being conducted on telomeres and telomerase provides insight on not only the aging process and mortality of cells, but also on how the idea of cell death connects to cancer cells. By gaining knowledge on the supposed immortality of cancer cells, researchers are acquiring a higher understanding of the subject, and attempting to work on alternate techniques to provide treatment for the illness. The connection between telomeres and cancer and the momentous discoveries being made on them is revolutionizing the world through potential current and future applications that have significant implications for cancer treatment, and society, the economy, and technology.
...nescence is result of a combination of the antagonist pleiotropy theory, mutation accumulation theory and disposable soma theory. The three evolutionary theories claim that natural selection is weak and ineffective in sustaining reproduction, growth, survival and somatic repair during the post-reproductive years causing genetic diseases in older individuals compared to younger individuals. As biological processes shut down, older individuals develop a weak immune system that can no longer fight the deleterious genes and mutations leading to death. Moreover, the evolutionary theories paved way for new research in gerontology that led to the development of new genetic theories of aging. The definite cause of genetic diseases in older individuals is yet to be determined, but all theories suggest that senescence is an inevitable process that all organisms experience.
Aging is an inevitable process where we as living beings grow old. Aging has some benefits and may bring some problems too. There is a great variety of researches done with different purposes which provide us with some information and statistics.
how we age, is discovering how to stop it. An intrinsic characteristic of Man is
By utilizing, and , if possible, modifying this special DNA structure, one may see a reduction of age related illness, diseases, and signs of aging. In this review of human telomere, we will discuss the roles and functions of the telomere, its structure, and the relation of telomere length to aging and tumorigenesis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that health conditions associated with the ageing process are arthritis, stroke, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These health concerns can be avoided...
SÍTAR, M.E., YANAR, K., AYDIN, S. and ÇAKATAY, U., CURRENT ASPECTS OF AGEING THEORIES AND CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO MECHANISMS. .
Furthermore, there are four biological theories that provide intriguing explanations of why we as people age. The four biological theories are evolutionary, cellular clock, free-radical, and hormonal stress. Evolutionary theory of aging is the view that natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults. Cellular block theory is Leonard Hayflick’s theory that cells can divide a maximum
Society and medical care professionals are inundated with diseases that have caused death 50 or100 years ago. Advancements in science and technology is prolonging life expectancy for people. The National Institute of Aging focuses on health illness in the aging population and how research and studies can provide better quality of life for the extended years of life. The organization is headed by two offices and division that are designed to address specific areas of the aging population.
As we age, we become more prone to a wide array of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease and treating these diseases most definitely helps us live longer but they do not seem to halt the natural aging process that eventually causes our bodies to weaken and wither away. New research suggests that, like several biological processes, the aging process could also be controlled and this could lead us to live much longer lives. However, commoners and bioethicists alike are often concerned about the bioethical issues pertaining to the life extension phenomena. They argue that the quality of life may be compromised in exchange for longevity and this may be due to intervention in the
What is aging? It is a question that has been puzzling doctors for centuries. In a culture so obsessed with youth, it is not surprising that science asks this question often. It is also not surprising that the anti-aging product market is a booming multi-million dollar phenomenon. We will pay thousands for procedures that make us thinner, stronger, more full of energy and less wrinkled. The new emphasis of the advertising world is not just looking young, but feeling young too. A large importance is placed on energy, vitality and mental awareness. In a time in our society where the 'baby boomer' generation is approaching their mid 50's, and the number of elderly Americans is substantially increasing, we begin to ask ourselves if growing old has to mean being frail, confused, weak, fatigued and depressed. In many elderly people, the neuronal changes of aging are some of the hardest to deal with. Loss of mental acuity, confusion, forgetfulness and depression are some of the most common complaints about the aging process. Is there a way to avoid these neuronal changes, or at least to slow them down? If there is a 'fountain of youth' that medicine can provide then many Americans will be lining up to get a first try at its effects.
Ageing is a natural occurrence, and practically an inevitable process in life. Even though, aging is a
Terry, D. (2008). Association of longer telomeres with better health in centenarians. The Journals of Gerontology.Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 63(8), 809-812.
Many research try to find new ways of stopping the aging process. Research discovered that the damage to the molecules which make up out cells is done by highly unstable molecules called reactive oxygen species. Humans need oxygen to stay alive, as this plays an important role in the energy production of cells. Normally the oxygen molecules are converted into water, but sometimes when they don’t take up enough electrons they become highly reactive. These reactive oxygen species which are left after the energy production process can damage the biological molecules, mutate genes, damage lipids which make up the cell membra...