X-Message-Number: 26170 Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 15:43:59 -0600 From: anthony <> Subject: theories of aging Dear all, I've been doing a little reading into theories of aging. I'm interested in anti-aging medical science and the process of aging (I'd prefer to not age and avoid the necessity of cryonic preservation). I believe I've isolated about 9 different theories from the literature: wear and tear - important molecules incur damage and not adequately replaced (mitochondria can't repair DNA) genetic mutation - occur naturally as cells function causing inefficiency free radical - molecules with outer orbits containing odd number of electrons that can only become stable by gaining or losing an electron and tries to unite with any available molecule - effects of this often cause the target molecule to function improperly or not at all. antioxidants slow it error catastrophe - dwindling DNA repair capacity, vital genes lost, proteins not synthesised or defective copies of essential proteins made cellular clocks - (Leonard hayflick's) cell function and cell division have determined limits that result in dysfunction. with each cell division the sequence of chromosome "telomeres" is reduced at a fixed rate. neuroendocrine - programmed changes in hormone secretion and levels linked to aging immune system - loses its ability to recognise host tissues, resulting in rejection of own tissues waste accumulation - at a cellular level, like lipofuscin - though not yet shown to impede functioning, even in large amounts cross-linking - collagen proteins (cellular glue) in the shape of ladders connect with each other by forming linking "rungs" that makes tissues less pliable and may prevent normal cell metabolism, or damage DNA eventually causing cell death Does anyone have the inclination to elaborate on any of these theories, or correct any errors I may have made in try to define these theoretical territories? Any comments on which theory/ies seem most likely to be true? Thanks, Anthony Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26170