The Science of Aging: Theories and Potential Therapies

An inside look at the natural processes of aging and the technological developments in this field. There are almost as many theories about the aging process as there are researchers working in the field. This stems from the fact that scientists do not know why animals grow old and thus examine every aspect of an animal's physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology in an attempt to answer this important question. The current trend among biologists studying the way animals age is to keep the theories in mind, but to focus their attention on dominant age-related diseases, such as Alzheimer's or cardiovascular disease. The Science of Aging tackles this fascinating subject, from natural processes to technological developments, and describes past and present research on extending the human life span. Different theories about aging and the studies of the fruit fly and housefly, which have provided a basis of knowledge in this field, are presented in a clear and concise manner. The author examines not only the use of hormone therapy and antioxidants, including other possible ways to reverse the effects of aging, but also their side effects and monetary expenses. This volume presents the full story about the hopes, efforts, progress, and realities of this timeless topic.