Life extension

Life extension - Anti-Aging Medicine. Much of anti-aging medicine has been concerned with the use of nutritional supplements to extend lifespan. The idea that antioxidant supplements, such as Vitamin E, lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine, might extend human life stems from the free radical theory of aging. Diabetes resembles accelerated aging and is associated with cross-linking of proteins by sugars, more specifically monosaccharides. Some believe that anti-glycating supplements (supplements that reduce the protein cross-linking by mono ...

See also:

Life extension, Life extension - Strategies of Life Extension, Life extension - Anti-Aging Medicine, Life extension - Calorie Restriction, Life extension - SENS Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, Life extension - Cryonics, Life extension - History of life extension and the Life Extension Movement, Life extension - Scientific Controversy about Life Extension, Life extension - Anti-Aging Medicine, Life extension - Calorie Restriction, Life extension - SENS Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, Life extension - Cryonics, Life extension - Ethics and Politics of Life Extension, Life extension - Anti-Aging Medicine, Life extension - SENS Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, Life extension - Cryonics, Life extension - Notes, Life extension - Books, Life extension - Scientific Journals

Read more here: » Life extension: Encyclopedia II - Life extension - Strategies of Life Extension

In biology, senescence is the combination of processes of deterioration which follow the period of development of an organism. For the science of the care of the elderly, see gerontology; for experimental gerontology, see life extension. The word senescence is derived from the Latin word senex, meaning "old man" or "old age." Cellular senescence is the phenomenon where cells lose the ability to divide. In response to DNA damage (including shortened telomeres) cells either senesce or self-destruct (apoptosis ...

Including:

• Aging senescence - Theories of aging
• Aging senescence - Evolutionary theories
• Aging senescence - Gene regulation
• Aging senescence - Cellular senescence
• Aging senescence - Chemical damage
• Aging senescence - Reliability theory
• Aging senescence - Neuro-endocrine-immunological theories
• Aging senescence - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Aging senescence: Encyclopedia - Aging senescence

Biological immortality can be defined as the absence of a sustained increase in rate of mortality as a function of chronological age. A cell or organism that does not experience, or at some future point will cease, aging is biologically immortal. There is no organism or individual cell that is literally immortal. Any "immortal" cell or organism can be killed by cutting or crushing. Biologists have chosen the word immortal to designate cells that do not undergo cellular sensecence (the state wherein c ...

Read more here: » Biological immortality: Encyclopedia - Biological immortality

Gerontology is the study of the elderly, and of the aging process itself. It is to be distinguished from geriatrics, which is the study of the diseases of the elderly. Gerontology covers the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging. Gerontology includes these and other endeavors: studying physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age. investigating the effects of our aging population on society. applyi ...

Including:

• Gerontology - Gerontologists
• Gerontology - Biogerontology
• Gerontology - Biogerontologists

Read more here: » Gerontology: Encyclopedia - Gerontology

The human brain goes through several large-scale changes as the individual progresses from embryo through to old age. Aging brain - Pre-natal development. Developmental neurobiology concerns itself with the development of the brain. The process of neurogenesis populates the brain, then programmed cell death cuts the growing brain down to size. Ageing, Life extension, Senescence Aging brain - Adolescence. During adolescence the brain goes through ...

Including:

• Aging brain - Pre-natal development
• Aging brain - Adolescence
• Aging brain - Aging

Read more here: » Aging brain: Encyclopedia - Aging brain

Calorie restriction or Caloric restriction (CR) is the practice of limiting dietary energy intake to improve health and retard aging. In human subjects, CR has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Some consider these to be biomarkers of aging, as such diseases are more frequent with increasing age. Every animal species tested with CR so far, including monkeys, rats, spiders and rotifers, has shown corresponding lifespan extension. CR is the only known dietary measure capable of extending maximum lifespan, as oppo ...

Including:

• Calorie restriction - Research history
• Calorie restriction - Why might CR increase longevity?
• Calorie restriction - Objections to Calorie Restriction
• Calorie restriction - Note on Terminology: Calorie Restriction vs. Caloric Restriction
• Calorie restriction - Intermittent Fasting as an alternative approach

Read more here: » Calorie restriction: Encyclopedia - Calorie restriction

The American Aging Association (AGE) is a non-profit, tax-exempt biogerontology organization of scientists and laypeople dedicated to biomedical aging studies intended to slow the aging process. The abbreviation AGE is intended to be representative of the organization, even though it is not an acronym. American aging association - History and Organization. AGE was founded in 1970 by Denham Harman, MD,PhD, who is often known as the "father" of the "Free-Radical Theory of Aging". Dr. Harman was Executi ...

Including:

• American aging association - History and Organization
• American aging association - Activities

Read more here: » American aging association: Encyclopedia - American aging association

Cryonics is the practice of cryopreserving humans and pets (who have recently become legally dead) until the cryopreservation damage can be reversed and the cause of the fatal disease can be cured (including the disease known as aging). Cryonics is not a widespread medical practice and is viewed with skepticism by most scientists and doctors today. However, there is a high representation of scientists among cryonicists.[1] Support for cryonics is based on controversial projections of future technologies and of their ability to enabl ...

Including:

• Cryonics - Obstacles to success
• Cryonics - Damage from ice formation and ischemia
• Cryonics - Revival process
• Cryonics - Financial issues
• Cryonics - Head neuro vs. whole-body cryopreservation
• Cryonics - History
• Cryonics - Culture
• Cryonics - Notes

Read more here: » Cryonics: Encyclopedia - Cryonics

Ageing or aging is the process of becoming older. This article focuses on the social, cultural, and economic effects of ageing. The biology of ageing is treated in detail in senescence. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Age is usually, but wholly arbitrarily, measured in years and a p ...

Including:

• Ageing - Senescence: the biology of ageing
• Ageing - Dividing the lifespan
• Ageing - Age and the law
• Ageing - Economics and marketing of ageing
• Ageing - Cultural variations
• Ageing - Global ageing trends
• Ageing - Reference

Read more here: » Ageing: Encyclopedia - Ageing

DNA repair is a process constantly operating in cells; it is essential to survival because it protects the genome from damage and harmful mutations. In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors (such as UV rays) can cause DNA damage, resulting in as many as 500,000 individual molecular lesions per cell per day. These lesions cause structural damage to the DNA molecule, and can dramatically alter the cell's way of reading the information encoded in its genes. Consequently, the DNA repair process must be constantly operating, to ...

Including:

• DNA repair - DNA damage
• DNA repair - Nuclear versus mitochondrial DNA damage
• DNA repair - Sources of damage
• DNA repair - Types of damage
• DNA repair - DNA repair mechanisms
• DNA repair - Single strand damage
• DNA repair - Double strand breaks
• DNA repair - DNA repair in disease and aging
• DNA repair - Poor DNA repair induces pathology
• DNA repair - DNA repair rate is variable
• DNA repair - Hereditary DNA repair disorders
• DNA repair - Chronic DNA repair disorders
• DNA repair - Longevity genes and DNA repair
• DNA repair - Caloric restriction increases DNA repair
• DNA repair - DNA repair and evolution
• DNA repair - DNA repair mechanisms are ancient
• DNA repair - Disease death and evolution
• DNA repair - Medicine & DNA repair modulation
• DNA repair - Cancer treatment
• DNA repair - Gene therapy
• DNA repair - Gene repair

Read more here: » DNA repair: Encyclopedia - DNA repair

Longevity is long life or existence. Reflections on longevity have usually gone beyond acknowledging the basic shortness of human life and included thinking about, and conceiving, methods to extend life (indefinitely). Longevity has been a topic not only for the scientific community but also for writers of travel, science fiction and utopian novels. The record human lifespan that has been authenticated is the 122 years 164 days of Jeanne Calment, though fiction, legend, and mythology have proposed or claimed vastly longer lifespans in ...

Including:

• Longevity - Presently
• Longevity - Records
• Longevity - History
• Longevity - Religion
• Longevity - Future
• Longevity - Non-human biological longevity
• Longevity - Longevity in fiction
• Longevity - Notes

Read more here: » Longevity: Encyclopedia - Longevity

Aubrey de Grey (D.O.B April 20, 1963) is a biomedical gerontologist and bioinformatician at the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, England. He is working to expedite the development of a 'cure' for human aging, a medical goal he refers to as engineered negligible senescence (senescence means the biological decline of aging). To this end, he has identified what he concludes are the seven areas of the aging process that need to be addressed medically before this can be done. He has been interviewed in recent years in many news sources, including the BBC, the N ...

Including:

• Aubrey de Grey - Scientific Journal

Read more here: » Aubrey de Grey: Encyclopedia - Aubrey de Grey

Cells cannot tolerate DNA damage that compromises the integrity and accessibility of essential information in the genome (but cells remain superficially functional when so-called "non-essential" genes are missing or damaged). Depending on the type of damage inflicted on the DNA's double helical structure, a variety of repair strategies has evolved to restore lost information. As templates for restoration cells use the unmodified complementary strand of the DNA or the sister chromosome. Without access to template information, DNA repair is er ...

See also:

DNA repair, DNA repair - DNA damage, DNA repair - Nuclear versus mitochondrial DNA damage, DNA repair - Sources of damage, DNA repair - Types of damage, DNA repair - DNA repair mechanisms, DNA repair - Single strand damage, DNA repair - Double strand breaks, DNA repair - DNA repair in disease and aging, DNA repair - Poor DNA repair induces pathology, DNA repair - DNA repair rate is variable, DNA repair - Hereditary DNA repair disorders, DNA repair - Chronic DNA repair disorders, DNA repair - Longevity genes and DNA repair, DNA repair - Caloric restriction increases DNA repair, DNA repair - DNA repair and evolution, DNA repair - DNA repair mechanisms are ancient, DNA repair - Disease death and evolution, DNA repair - Medicine & DNA repair modulation, DNA repair - Cancer treatment, DNA repair - Gene therapy, DNA repair - Gene repair

Read more here: » DNA repair: Encyclopedia II - DNA repair - DNA repair mechanisms

Over the years, the human brain shows a decline in function and a change in gene expression. This modulation in gene expression may be due to oxidative DNA damage at promoter regions in the genome. Genes that are down-regulated over the age of 40 include: GluR1 AMPA receptor subunit NMDA R2A receptor subunit (involved in learning) Subunits of the GABA-A receptor Genes involved in long-term potentiation e.g. calmodulin 1 and CAM kinase II alpha. Calcium signalling genes Synaptic plasticity genes Synaptic vesicle ...

See also:

Aging brain, Aging brain - Pre-natal development, Aging brain - Adolescence, Aging brain - Aging

Read more here: » Aging brain: Encyclopedia II - Aging brain - Aging

The leading modern exponent of scientific rejuvenation is the modern biomedical gerontologist Dr. Aubrey de Grey. He calls his project to reverse the damage we call aging SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence). He has proposed seven strategies for the "seven deadly sins": Cell loss can be repaired (reversed) just by suitable exercise in the case of muscle. For other tissues it needs various growth factors to stimulate cell division, or in some cases it needs stem cells. S ...

See also:

Rejuvenation aging, Rejuvenation aging - Historical and Cultural Background, Rejuvenation aging - Modern developments, Rejuvenation aging - Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence SENS, Rejuvenation aging - Scientific Journal

Read more here: » Rejuvenation aging: Encyclopedia II - Rejuvenation aging - Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence SENS

The Foundation currently awards two prizes: a longevity prize for extending total lifespan, and a rejuvenation price focusing on intervention begun at older age. The Foundation collects donations in order to increase the size of the prizes. Whenever a record is broken, the researcher receives an amount based on the then current size of the prize fund and the percentage they exceeded the previous record. The longevity price allows any type of intervention, including breeding and genetic engineering. Only a single mouse has to be presented. As of 2005, the record holder was a mouse wh ...

See also:

Methuselah Mouse Prize, Methuselah Mouse Prize - Prize structure and current record holders, Methuselah Mouse Prize - Goals and expectations

Read more here: » Methuselah Mouse Prize: Encyclopedia II - Methuselah Mouse Prize - Prize structure and current record holders

AGE was founded in 1970 by Denham Harman, MD,PhD, who is often known as the "father" of the "Free-Radical Theory of Aging". Dr. Harman was Executive Director of AGE for 20 years (1973 to 1993). Much of the early financial support for AGE came from Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, who are known for their best-selling book Life Extension: A Practical Scientific Approach (1982). The Vice-Presidency of AGE is to be a layperson position ...

See also:

American aging association, American aging association - History and Organization, American aging association - Activities

Read more here: » American aging association: Encyclopedia II - American aging association - History and Organization

Programmed Senscence seems to be heavily influenced by plant hormones. The hormones Abscisic Acid and Ethylene are accepted by most scientists as the main culprits, but at least one source, believes Gibberellins and Brassinosteroids are equally to blame. Plant senescence - Annual Versus Perennial Benefits - Theory. Some plants choose the annual strategy dieing off each year whereas closely related plants in the same family may choose to live for several ye ...

See also:

Plant senescence, Plant senescence - Unprogrammed senescence - Plant Aging, Plant senescence - Programmed senscence, Plant senescence - Annual Versus Perennial Benefits - Theory, Plant senescence - Plant Self Pruning - Theory, Plant senescence - Hormonal Induction of Senescence - Theory

Read more here: » Plant senescence: Encyclopedia II - Plant senescence - Programmed senscence

Currently, the only method of increasing maximum life span that is recognized by biogerontologists is calorie restriction with adequate nutrition. Rats, mice and hamsters experience maximum life span extension from a diet which contains 40−60% of the calories (but all of the required nutrients) which the animals consume when they can eat as much as they want. Mean life span is increased 65% and maximum life span is increased 50%, when calorie restriction is begun just before puberty. For fruit flies the life extending benefits of calorie r ...

See also:

Maximum life span, Maximum life span - Increasing maximum life span, Maximum life span - Research data concerning maximum life span

Read more here: » Maximum life span: Encyclopedia II - Maximum life span - Increasing maximum life span

Evolutionary theory explains why we don't live forever, and provides a reasonable explanation for the huge variation in lifespan between (often closely related) species. The geneticist J. B. S. Haldane wondered why the dominant mutation which causes Huntington's disease remained in the population, why natural selection had not eliminated it. The onset of this neurological disease is (on average) at age 35 and is invariably fatal within 10-20 years. Haldane assumed, probably reasonably, that in human prehistory, few survived until age ...

See also:

Senescence, Senescence - Theories of aging, Senescence - Evolutionary theories, Senescence - Gene regulation, Senescence - Cellular senescence, Senescence - Chemical damage, Senescence - Reliability theory, Senescence - Neuro-endocrine-immunological theories, Senescence - Miscellaneous

Read more here: » Senescence: Encyclopedia II - Senescence - Evolutionary theories