Aging by Design
How New Thinking on Aging Will Change Your Life
Theodore C. Goldsmith
Copyright © 2011 Azinet Press
ISBN: 978-0-9788709-3-5
ISBN-10: 0-9788709-3-X
Amazon Kindle Edition ASIN: B005KCO8SS
Azinet Press
Box 239 Crownsville, MD 21032
1-410-923-4745
Keywords: senescence, anti-aging medicine, ageing, evolution, gerontology
This book contains some material previously published in An Introduction to Biological Aging Theory
Pictures and illustrations courtesy of Wikipedia unless otherwise noted.
22,500 words, 49 pages (8.5 x 11 inch format), 7 illus.
August 22, 2011
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................4
Ages of Man – Human Mortality........................................................................................5
A Brief Summary of Aging Theories..................................................................................6
The Evolution of Aging......................................................................................................7
Medawar’s Modification to Darwin’s Theory..................................................................11
Williams’ Modification to Darwin’s Theory....................................................................12
Evolution Theory’s Individual Benefit Clause.................................................................14
More Discrepancies with Traditional Darwinism – Group Selection...............................15
More Discrepancies – Evolvability Theory......................................................................17
Evidence Exclusion Principles..........................................................................................22
Evolutionary Mechanics Theories -- Current Summary...................................................23
Biological Aging Mechanisms..........................................................................................25
Direct Evidence for Programmed Aging..........................................................................27
Non-Science Factors.........................................................................................................34
Anti-Aging Medicine........................................................................................................35
Anti-Aging Research........................................................................................................36
How to Live Longer!........................................................................................................41
Further Reading................................................................................................................41
References........................................................................................................................42
APPENDIX I Problems with Popular Non-Programmed Aging Theories......................44
APPENDIX II Digital Genetics, Linkage, and Variation.................................................47
Aging by Design
Theodore Goldsmith
Introduction
The nature of biological aging is one of the most enduring scientific mysteries and has remained unresolved for more then 150 years. The persistence of this issue is itself somewhat amazing. We have landed on the moon and performed other fantastic technical and medical feats. Aging affects the vast majority of people in the developed world. How could it be that such an important question remains unresolved despite such a long duration? Why is funding for aging research relatively miniscule? Why are there still scientific disagreements as to the biological mechanisms responsible for aging and even disagreement as to why aging exists in the first place?
Theories of biological aging fall into two categories. In the programmed aging theories, organisms purposely self-limit their lifespans and possess what amount to suicide mechanisms to accomplish this function. “Programmed” refers to the idea that there exists some sort of internal biological clock and a time-dependent plan or program that directs an internal limitation to lifespan. According to these theories, lifespan is genetically programmed in much the same manner as other internally driven and programmed biological events such as growth, reproductive maturity, mating seasons, birth, and circadian rhythms.
In the second category, non-programmed theories consider that aging is the result of the body’s inability to better combat deteriorative processes that affect all organized systems such as wear-and-tear, oxidation, other molecular damage, or accumulation of toxic byproducts. According to these theories, humans age in a similar manner and for essentially the same reasons as automobiles and exterior paint.
We could say that programmed aging (also known as adaptive aging or active aging) is something our bodies do to themselves while in the non-programmed (non-adaptive, or passive) theories aging is something that happens to our bodies, like an infectious disease or injury.
Although programmed theories were formally proposed as long ago as 1882 non-programmed theories are currently more popular among gerontologists and other medical researchers. However, evidence is steadily accumulating that favors programmed aging and an increasing number of theorists and experimentalists now believe in programmed aging. Which theory is correct has a potentially enormous impact on the future of medicine. The answer to the aging question could easily affect most Americans now alive!
This book explains why programmed aging is the correct theory, why this has major implications for medicine, and why science has been so slow in coming to this conclusion. Along the way, I will introduce you to many people that have had a critical impact on aging theory science and describe the history and current controversies surrounding aging and underlying evolution theories.
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