Gerontology Articles aging and youth

Aging and Youth

Aging – an inevitable process, which is subject to any human body. Scientists have not yet figured out the real cause of this, but created a lot of theories. In some ways, they echo each other in something contrary. And each of them at a successful scenario may become the key to extending life and youth, of whom dream of millions.

Nearly a century ago emerged a special science – gerontology, which deals with various aspects of human aging, its causes and ways of rejuvenation. Most scientists, gerontologists are inclined to believe that aging – a genetically programmed process. In favor of this view say numerous studies. For example, we know that bamboo shoots propagated for 15-20 years and not aging. But it is necessary to ripen its seeds, as in a few days the plant decrepit, and dies. Obviously pharmacy online kamagra, in order to provide a place for the germination of its “descendants.”

Likewise, salmon after spawning begins to age rapidly and die within 1-2 months. But there are cases where its gills settled larvae of bivalves, pearls, and salmon continue to live and good health. The thing that sassy clams need fish as a “transport”. They need to return to their home river, so they secrete special substances that block the aging of fish. There are cases when the salmon through these passengers lived 30 times longer than expected, while spawning again and again.

The scientists conducted a similar experience: Agave Mexican, who lives 10 years, the last year of life cut the main escape. When he was growing back again, he was again cut off. This “fun” with agave lasted for about 100 (!) Years.

The genetic program makes us grow old, but to prolong life possible!

It turns out that in living organisms (and human in particular), probably laid some kind of program that makes us grow old and die. It is necessary that the ground remains a place and resources for the next life, young and healthy generations. But under certain conditions to prolong youth and life expectancy is quite possible.

You may find many products to keep your skin fresh and young at online pharmacy no prescription with no prior rx.

Continuous stress

However, understand that the body grows old “special” – half the battle. Scientists trying to unravel exactly what the mechanism of aging is used. And they, of course, is on this score a lot of ideas.

According to some theories of gerontology, aging occurs because of damage to proteins that are in our body. Several scientists believe that proteins “spoiled” in the process of glycosylation – the chemical reaction of reduced sugars to the protein without the participation of enzymes. Thus, the proteins affected skin, muscle, lungs, blood vessels and other organs. Due to this reaction in the cells formed swarms of free radicals. And they, in turn, is also not averse porazrushat proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. As a result, the body is in a state of so-called oxidative stress, accumulates damage and aging. Under the influence of the process of protein glycosylation accelerates. It turns out that a harmful reaction glycation and oxidative stress as would follow from each other. Scientists still have not decided which of them are primary. However, a free radical theory of aging and the theory of protein glycosylation has many opponents, and some of their arguments sound quite convincing. In particular, why, if the theory is correct, the use of antioxidants does not give a sufficiently strong effect?

An alternative view states that the aging process run damage to our genes. Genetic changes are influenced by various environmental factors: ionizing radiation, stress, ultraviolet radiation, viruses, accumulating in the body by-products of chemical reactions, oxidation, etc. Gene mutation may be random (spontaneous), the scientists said. As a result of damaged DNA molecules lose their ability to regulate the activity of certain vital processes, including protein synthesis. It is interesting that the body has a special system of reparation (restoring) the structure of DNA, which provides its relative strength and reliability in the transmission of hereditary information. Everything is arranged very cleverly: age-repair system gradually weakens and allows our body to self-destruct.

Rubber wrinkles

Another group of scientists are inclined to think that aging is associated with the function of telomere – specific chromosomal regions. They determine the potential of dividing each cell of our body. After the next division telomeres shorten kamagra online uk. At some point, so that the cell can no longer be more to share. Thus, the exhausted its life cycle. Later it was discovered a substance called “the enzyme telomerase, capable of complete construction of telomeres in germ cells and tumor cells. Owing to the action of this enzyme and the other gain immortality. The first – to our delight (otherwise would have long since come to an end all living things), the second – to the chagrin (no comment). However, this theory has serious flaws. For example, the fact that at the time of natural death, human cells do not have time to exhaust the limits specified by the telomeres. However, despite this, the body still gets old. In short, if the cause of this process was only a shortening of telomeres, people could live much longer than they do it. Nevertheless, research in this area is still under way.

Russian scientist, Academician Vladimir Skulachev developed another theory according to which each cell at a certain point comes in the way of apoptosis (the so-called programmed cell death). Once in the cells accumulate multiple mutations and damage caused by various negative factors in the environment, she would commit suicide. In this case, the catalyst of apoptosis, in his opinion, are the reactive oxygen species (ROS), that is well-known free radicals. As an antidote to academic invited to saturate the mitochondria of cells with antioxidants (they are the focus of the development of apoptosis). Only snag is that the introduction into the mitochondria a certain amount of “antidote” they begin to produce ROS with a vengeance, as if trying, despite everything, to implement the program of aging. Nevertheless, it is synthesized product – cationic antioxidant – which in 1000 increased the antioxidant reserve of mitochondria.

“The existence of destructive forms of oxygen was opened in 1954 in the last century chemist Denhem Harman, specializing in the rubber industry. One day he noticed that the cationic polymerization of isoprene leads to rapid degradation of rubber and the appearance of “wrinkles”. Harman suggested that the same phenomenon of formation of wrinkles due to free radicals and peculiar skin. The theory that aging is caused by the pernicious influence of reactive oxygen species, currently seems the most coherent and reasonable of all the existing “- says Mr. Joseph Verkoteren, a professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Bordeaux.

On the right track

And yet you can not say for sure which of the theories of aging first yield significant practical results. By the way, not all of them are based on the notion that aging is genetically programmed. For example, in the 50 years of the last century domestic gerontologist VM Dilman proposed elevatsionnuyu theory of aging (from Lat. Elevatio – growth, development). According to her, aging and related diseases – are byproducts of the implementation of the genetic program of development of the organism. With increasing age of the person decreases its sensitivity of the hypothalamus (“conductor” of the endocrine system). He ceases to properly perceive the regulatory signals from the nervous system and endocrine glands. Result of “laziness” of the hypothalamus is an increase in mature age of body fat, decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin (prediabetes) and the development of atherosclerosis. Now developed some drugs that stabilize the homeostasis that is supported by the constancy of the internal processes in the body.

Another theory of aging conventionally called immunological. It boils down to that age in the human body accumulates defects of immune system, and therefore the body ages, and then – dying. Hypothesis is based on the fact that older people become, the more they are exposed to all sorts of infectious diseases, autoimmune processes and tumors. However, not so long ago, research has shown that there is enough performance-enhancing drugs – immunomodulators capable to restore the activity of immune cells in the old body. In addition, good results are given hormone replacement therapy and the use of drugs zinc. So far, however, is not established whether these methods significantly increase the human lifespan.

Rejuvenating apples

In short, the causes of aging today are defined only theoretically. “To get to the bottom of the mechanisms of aging, understand their smallest details, the scientific community may need more than a century” – said Professor Verkoteren. But, of course, scientists do not sit idly by waiting for a miracle. For the sake of the supporters of free-radical theory of aging in the cosmetic market, there are many creams and serums, rich in antioxidants. Other “miracle” creams are betting on the revitalization of our genes to halt the chronological (genetically programmed) of skin aging. Perceptions of damaged proteins as the main reason of aging have created in the cosmetic market a number of means to stimulate their production.
In general, scientists have been many discoveries that help in the fight against aging skin. And we can only wish them endless inspiration in the future!