A piece from earlier this year at InfoAging: "Aging is characterized primarily by the decline of function in various cellular and molecular systems in the body. These changes are influenced by three factors: genetics, metabolism, and the environment. The focus
A number of groups are presently working on ways to use viruses to precisely target and kill cancer cells. Here's an update on one of them from ScienceDaily: "The Senecavirus [is] harmless to normal human cells, but could infect certain
Scientific American takes a look at one of the reasons it's hard to convince people to give an appropriate level of support to longevity research: "the only real mystery is why we're so convinced that when it comes to where
An important field resulting from stem cell research is the discovery and application of biochemical signals to direct existing stem cells in the body - they can be made to repair damage where they would ordinarily remain inactive. Only where
From Science News: "Old age can hit animals in the gut. That's where elderly fruit flies experience a signaling imbalance that disrupts renewal of the gut wall, new research shows. The discovery could help scientists understand why the body's organs
The ultimate goal of medicine is to be able to reliably and precisely manipulate any the molecules in our bodies: all disease, all aging, is a matter of the wrong molecules being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You might recall that the reason excess fat tissue is so damaging seems to be due to roaming macrophages that release inflammatory biochemicals. Via EurekAlert!, a demonstration that reinforces this point: "Over the past decade, it has become quite clear
From Depressed Metabolism: "the author argues that 'the continuing fact of death renders all talk of liberty ultimately futile.' The author further argues that our concern for the future will diminish as we approach death. But instead of facing the
Across the years, I've seen many mixed op-ed columns holding forth on the subject of engineered longevity. There's a particular style to this sort of thing, usually involving disclaimers of any personal interest in living a longer, healthier life -
This article looks at an aging research lab typical of the community presently working to better understand aging and metabolism: "Aging is not just a simple fact of life. Scientists see life span as a complex process in which genetics
Researchers continue to try to learn from differences in longevity and metabolism between species: "Haussmann studied cacti and turtles before zeroing in on a small, marine bird that contradicts traditional assumptions about aging. ... Leach's storm-petrels should die young but
Many branches of medicine are concerned with manipulating tissue and its environment so as to generate the right biochemical signals for increased regeneration - strategies that we hope will become obsolete as researchers learn to create those signals directly. Here
Ouroboros casts a skeptical eye on research I mentioned a little while ago at Fight Aging!: culturing cells using blood serum from calorie restriction (CR) and alternate day fasting (ADF) volunteers before and after the program to examine the differences.
The next Hourglass blog carnival on the biology of aging will be held at Existence is Wonderful on the 14th. Don't forget to send in your blog posts for consideration ahead of time: "Eligible submissions can cover any aspect of
Another Aging 2008 presentation from the "work to slow aging rather than repair it" contingent: "All of life is trade-offs [and] that is an inevitable byproduct of living. Nature is better than most engineers - it is 98 or 99%
Over at Future Current, one of the presentations from Aging 2008: "What can each of us do to advance a new paradigm for health promotion and disease prevention in the 21st century that makes as its central tenet the slowing
From JET, a Nick Bostrom fiction in the spirit of the Fable of the Dragon Tyrant: "Your body is a deathtrap. This vital machine and mortal vehicle, unless it jams first or crashes, is sure to rust anon. You are
Here's an essay from Aubrey de Grey in one of the recent issues of the Journal of Evolution and Technology: "A pervasive reaction to the idea of extreme or indefinite postponement of human aging - one heard from many professional
Researchers continue to learn more about the underlying biochemistry of common age-related conditions: "Until relatively recently, osteoarthritis was believed to be due solely to wear and tear, and an inevitable part of aging. Recent studies have revealed, however, that specific
It is plausible that mechanisms of unlimited tissue regeneration will be learned from lesser species and then ported to humans: "Urodele amphibians such as the axolotl are the champions of tissue regeneration amongst vertebrates. These animals have mastered the ability
