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Arguing for the Role of Nuclear DNA Damage in Aging
There is some debate over whether the accumulation of damage to nuclear DNA contributes meaningfully to degenerative aging. It certainly raises the odds of cancer, but are its effects beyond that significant? Here is an open access paper...Show More Summary
The Unfolded Protein Response in Mitochondria
The unfolded protein response is a housekeeping mechanism that repairs disarrayed protein machinery in cells or guides those cells to self-destruction if there is too much damage. Like many cellular repair and quality control mechanisms,...Show More Summary
Time Goes By Commenting Policies
Readers arrive here (and elsewhere on the web) with varying levels of computer and internet expertise. Because this blog appeals primarily to elders, many of whom have taught themselves this stuff (and hurray to all of you who have done...
Costly Publicity Makes Little Sense When Research is Cheap
Broad public understanding and support is a necessary part of scaling rejuvenation research programs like SENS into a scientific community the size of the cancer or Alzheimer's establishments. At a small scale, even up to millions of...Show More Summary
How Senescent Cells Can Promote Cancer Formation
Cells that have divided too many times or are damaged become senescent, removing themselves from the cell cycle as a protective measure that reduces the risk of cancer by preventing damaged cells from being active. Senescent cells should...Show More Summary
Elder Poverty in the U.S.
President Obama has not withdrawn his stated intention to cut Social Security benefits by using a different method – chained CPI – to measure cost of living increases for the program. Many others – mainly Republican lawmakers and their zillionnaire...
A Better Understanding of Oligomers in Alzheimer's Disease
The biochemistry of Alzheimer's disease is complex, and the tools available to researchers only recently up to the task of deciphering it all. Understanding the way in which the condition develops is still an ongoing work in progress:...Show More Summary
Radioactivity as a Viable Kill Mechanism in Targeted Therapies
A range of methods to target specific types of cell in the body are presently under development: immune cells, nanoparticles, viruses, and bacteria can all be used to deliver payloads to specific cells, provided that a suitable sensor mechanism can be established for the target in question. Show More Summary
Who Watches Reality Shows, and Why?
From toddlers in tiaras, to top models to pawn stars, reality television presents an insider’s view of the common and not-so-common experiences of everyday life. These shows present viewers with the opportunity to get a peek into behind-the-scenes views of other people’s lives. Show More Summary
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow – Part 3
Okay, that was a bit of a cheat on Monday - all process, no news. But it was quick and easy to write and I needed time to prepare for the arrival of a houseguest. No excuses today. The Joseph...
Macrophages Essential to Salamander Regeneration
Researchers investigate the ability of lower animals like the salamander to regenerate limbs and organs with the hopes that some of these mechanisms also exist in humans, just turned off at some point in our evolutionary history. Even...Show More Summary
A Look at First Generation Targeted Cancer Therapies
Ten years from now targeted therapies that selectively deliver cell-killing mechanisms to cancer cells will be the dominant method of treating cancer. This sort of technology offers the prospect of removing cancer cells even after metastasis,...Show More Summary
Reactive Oxygen Species are a Complex Topic
It wouldn't be too far wrong to regard ourselves as ambulatory chemical processing plants: biology is very complicated and highly organized chemistry, a collection of reactions and products. The operation of our metabolism is as much based on processing oxygen as it is on processing food. Show More Summary
A Review of Research Suggesting Retirement is Bad For Health
A recent publication by the Institute of Economic Affairs (PDF format) looks at British data and studies that suggest retirement leads to worse long-term health and shorter remaining life expectancy. You'll find the meaningful discussion...Show More Summary
Halting the Progression of Osteoarthritis in Mice
Osteoarthritis is one of the more common age-related conditions, and at the present time little can be done to treat the causes other than to alter lifestyle in ways that usually slow down the progression of the condition. Signs of progress...Show More Summary
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow – Part 2
You can spend days on the interwebs and find not a single useful word about thinning hair. The only solutions that come close are from professionals who specialize in wigs for chemotherapy patients. Obviously, that would work as well for...
ELDER MUSIC: Songs About Cities - Memphis
This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to...
That Elusive Birth Order Effect and What it Means for You
Myths and stereotypes about birth order in the popular literature shape our beliefs about how a person’s order in the family influences everything from life success to attitudes, values, and goals. Three recent studies provide new insights into this perennial issue and will help you understand the role of birth order in your own life. read more
INTERESTING STUFF – 18 May 2013
DADDY IS SOOOO FUNNY There is not much that is better in life than a bunch of babies laughing and here are quadruplets who think daddy is the funniest thing ever. What I want to know is where daddy got...
Reviewing the Results of Calorie Restriction Primate Studies
In the past few years two ongoing studies of long term calorie restriction (CR) in primates have started to publish their results on longevity. Both research programs have been underway for more than 20 years, one run by the National Institute on Aging and the other by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Show More Summary
