Biomedical gerontology therapies would prevent the onset of age-related disease and frailty, extending both average...

Originally shared by Global Health Lab

Biomedical gerontology therapies would prevent the onset of age-related disease and frailty, extending both average and maximum lifespan. 

The 7 types of aging damage:

1. #Mutations – in Chromosomes causing cancer due to nuclear mutations/epimutations: these are changes to the nuclear DNA (nDNA), the molecule that contains our genetic information, or to proteins which bind to the nDNA. Certain mutations can lead to #cancer

2. Mutations – in #Mitochondria  : mitochondria are components in our cells that are important for energy production. They contain their own genetic material, and mutations to their DNA can affect a cell's ability to function properly. Indirectly, these mutations may accelerate many aspects of aging.

3. Junk – inside of cells, aka intracellular aggregates: our cells are constantly breaking down proteins and other molecules that are no longer useful or which can be harmful. Those molecules which can't be digested simply accumulate as junk inside our cells.

4. #Atherosclerosis macular degeneration and all kinds of neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease) are associated with this problem. Junk – outside of cells, aka extracellular aggregates: harmful junk protein can also accumulate outside of our cells. The amyloid senile plaque seen in the brains of Alzheimer's patients is one example.

5. Cells – too few, aka cellular loss: some of the cells in our bodies cannot be replaced, or can only be replaced very slowly – more slowly than they die. This decrease in cell number causes the heart to become weaker with age, and it also causes #parkinsons   disease and impairs the immune system.

6. Cells – too many, aka Cell senescence: this is a phenomenon where the cells are no longer able to divide, but also do not die and let others divide. They may also do other things that they're not supposed to, like secreting proteins that could be harmful. Cell senescence has been proposed as cause or consequence of type 2 diabetes. Immune senescence is also caused by this.

7. Extracellular protein crosslinks: cells are held together by special linking proteins. When too many cross-links form between cells in a tissue, the tissue can lose its elasticity and cause problems including arteriosclerosis and presbyopia.

#health   #telomeres #stemcells #proteinfolding #mitochondria #intercellularcommunication   #genetics #genomics #epigenetics   #DNArepair #DNAdamage   #aging #lifehacking   #science   #interesting  

Pls see #infographics for more details: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/road-to-150/FutureHuman-print.pdf