The Future of Aging

by Fahy, Gregory M.; West, Michael D.; Coles, L. Stephen; Harris, Steven B.

• ISBN13: 9789048139989
• ISBN10: 9048139988
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-08-30
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Just as the health costs of aging threaten to bankrupt developed countries, this book makes the scientific case that a biological "bailout" could be on the way, and that human aging can be different in the future than it is today. Here 40 authors argue how our improving understanding of the biology of aging and selected technologies should enable the successful use of many different and complementary methods for ameliorating aging, and why such interventions are appropriate based on our current historical, anthropological, philosophical, ethical, evolutionary, and biological context. Challenging concepts are presented together with in-depth reviews and paradigm-breaking proposals that collectively illustrate the potential for changing aging as never before. The proposals extend from today to a future many decades from now in which the control of aging may become effectively complete. Examples include sirtuin-modulating pills, new concepts for attacking cardiovascular disease and cancer, mitochondrial rejuvenation, stem cell therapies and regeneration, tissue reconstruction, telomere maintenance, prevention of immunosenescence, extracellular rejuvenation, artificial DNA repair, and full deployment of nanotechnology. The Future of Aging will make you think about aging differently and is a challenge to all of us to open our eyes to the future therapeutic potential of biogerontology.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Orientation
Bridges to Life	p. 3
Analyzing Predictions: An Anthropological View of Anti-Aging Futures	p. 23
Towards Naturalistic Transcendence: The Value of Life and Life Extension to Persons as Conative Processes	p. 39
The Ethical Basis for Using Human Embryonic Stem Cells in the Treatment of Aging	p. 63
Evolutionary Origins of Aging	p. 87
Precedents for the Biological Control of Aging: Experimental Postponement, Prevention, and Reversal of Aging Processes	p. 127
The Future of Aging
An Approach to Extending Human Lifespan Today	p. 227
Near Term Prospects for Ameliorating Cardiovascular Aging	p. 279
Near Term Prospects for Broad Spectrum Amelioration of Cancer	p. 307
Small Molecule Modulators of Sirtuin Activity	p. 331
Evolutionary Nutrigenomics	p. 357
Biological Effects of Calorie Restriction: Implications for Modification of Human Aging	p. 367
Caubrating Notch/TGF-² Signaling for Youthful, Healthy Tissue Maintenance and Repair	p. 439
Embryonic Stem Cells: Prospects of Regenerative Medicine for the Treatment of Human Aging	p. 451
Maintenance and Restoration of Immune System Function	p. 489
Mitochondrial Manipulation as a Treatment for Aging	p. 521
Life Extension by Tissue and Organ Replacement	p. 543
Telomeres and the Arithmetic of Human Longevity	p. 573
Repairing Extracellular Aging and Glycation	p. 587
Mauselah's DNA: Defining Genes That Can Extend Longevity	p. 623
Rersing Age-Related Dna Damage Through Engineered Dna Repair	p. 641
WILT: Necessity, Feasibility, Affordability	p. 667
Comprehensive Nanorobotic Control of Human Morbidity and Aging	p. 685
Appendices: Two Unusual Potential Sources of Funding for Longevity Research	p. 807
SENS Foundation: Accelerating Progress Toward Biomedical Rejuvenation	p. 809
The Manhattan Beach Project	p. 827
Index	p. 843
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