http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/05/31/Visi ... index.html
The right thing to do?
Considering the world's population is getting to be more and more of a problem, is extending the human life a good idea?
Path to longevity?
I'd say it depends on how you extend life... Doing something like they did in that article (low-cal diets) or working with telomerase may extend life, but it won't neccessarily improve life. Those things won't reduce wear-and-tear on joints for instance, or prevent thymus reduction. Even if you live to 120, you'll still feel the effects of aging those things can have.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to keep people alive longer if it can be done in a way that actually keeps people in a healthier, more fit lifestyle. But just saying we can fend off cancer for a few extra years won't neccessarily make it better to be ultra-old.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying to keep people alive longer if it can be done in a way that actually keeps people in a healthier, more fit lifestyle. But just saying we can fend off cancer for a few extra years won't neccessarily make it better to be ultra-old.
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Massive Quasars
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Are you asking whether extending the human lifespan is feisable or justifiable?
In both cases, I would say it is.
In both cases, I would say it is.
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Low calorie diets have been known for a long, long time to increase the lifespan of lab animals. It's always interesting how research that has been published in scientific journals (nature, science, pnas, etc., etc.) never really hits the mainstream for a year or more.
Low calorie diets are the way to go in many ways - so long as you aren't depriving your body of essential nutrients, amino acids, etc. Less food --> less ROS --> less cellular damage --> longer life, less disease risk. Couple that with healthy diet rich in antioxidants and there you go.
*that's my simplified take on the whole thing - obviously a bit more to it than that*
I remember when telomerase was getting some buzz as possibly being some fountain of youth potentially. Growth hormone still is pretty popular too.
Low calorie diets are the way to go in many ways - so long as you aren't depriving your body of essential nutrients, amino acids, etc. Less food --> less ROS --> less cellular damage --> longer life, less disease risk. Couple that with healthy diet rich in antioxidants and there you go.
*that's my simplified take on the whole thing - obviously a bit more to it than that*
I remember when telomerase was getting some buzz as possibly being some fountain of youth potentially. Growth hormone still is pretty popular too.