Gerontology, geriatrics and dementia

katiemac · Jan 9, 2008

I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for yet, so you might need to bear with me. Right now I'm looking for as close to the basics as possible.

I'm reading up on gerontology, which is the study of aging in humans. A couple famous gerontologists are studying life extension projects. Aubrey de Gray, for one, has projected that the first person to reach 1,000 years old is already living. I looked up his book the other day, but I'm a bit afraid it's over my head. I'll have to go back and flip through it again.

Now, from what I can gather from these studies, gerontologists are speculating that they can repair signs of aging by repairing molecules, tissue damage and deteriorating cells.

So down to the questions: I'm curious what this means for studies in geriatrics, which is diseases of the aging. Like ... what do these diseases, mainly issues like Alzheimer's or dementia, affect? Does dementia attack cells or tissues in the brain? Would these gerontology repairs also extend to brain damage caused by geriatric problems, or are they two different things? Is there a type of repair that works for the body (cells, immune system, etc), but not the brain? What's the difference re: cellular makeup of mental and physical traumas, if there is one? Am I getting into fields of psychology by discussing causes of dementia, or is there always a physical explanation?

I've been looking into various resources, but so far they're only the basics since I'm not versed enough in medical sciences to push something heavier. Really, I'm not much further studied than what I can find on Wikipedia and similar outlines.

I'd appreciate any resources, or better ideas of what I should be trying to study.

Many thanks!

GeorgeK · Jan 9, 2008

You can try to repair cell damage all you want but it doesn't change the fact that every end organ cell has a preprogrammed death after so many cell divisions. They can make certain in vitro cell cultures that go on for a very long time, but so far nothing works in vivo. We can as a trend get people to a healthier more robust life for the time allotted. We can get a higher percentage of people to make it to their full lifespan but we can not extend the actual life span. People don't technically live longer (as a species) than they did 2000 years ago, they just don't as often die prematurely. Socrates was 72 when he was executed.

katiemac · Jan 9, 2008

You can try to repair cell damage all you want but it doesn't change the fact that every end organ cell has a preprogrammed death after so many cell divisions.

I thought this was part of the damage they are trying to repair, though? Going in and fixing it as if the damage/division never happened ... so what do you mean by preprogrammed? Is it different between organ cells and others?

And thanks so much, I really need these debates!

GeorgeK · Jan 9, 2008

katiemac said:
I thought this was part of the damage they are trying to repair, though? Going in and fixing it as if the damage/division never happened ... so what do you mean by preprogrammed? Is it different between organ cells and others?

And thanks so much, I really need these debates!

Every cell in an organisms' body is derived from germ cells and then stem cells. Once they differentiate beyond that into something as identifiable as an organ they are destined to die. It is programmed into the DNA that they can only divide so many times which is why we have "natural lifespans". Part of senescence (growing old/aging) is the result of cellular and DNA damage which is what some are working on so that people age gracefully instead of turning into decrepid things in constant pain. The preprogrammed death of a cell line is not damage, it's programmed. That can not be repaired since it is not abnormal or the result of damage.

That said, there is one known animal that does not senesce, the Great White Shark. It lacks this preprogrammed cell line death. They dont get old, they get bigger until they can no longer obtain adequate food, or they get killed by predation or disease. There are people trying to isolate the reasons why these animals don't sensece and theoretically maybe someday they could using a retrovirus or some such confer it to humans, but since they don't know if it is even a nuclear DNA thing or something else it will be a long time before they figure it out. It is theoretically possible that a human might have the same trait as a mutation and be immortal until killed, but if they did, it would simply be normal for them rather than the result of some magical elixer of herbs.

katiemac · Jan 9, 2008

Fantastic stuff, thanks again.

chevbrock · Jan 9, 2008

Wow, George! A smart person would be able to find a sci-fi book in your post there!

Very interesting info!

Speaking of marine animals, scientists are investigating how turtles have the lowest rates of cell mutation of any other animal species, and have mentioned that this may help in the treatment/prevention of alzheimers, along with the rest of the diseases they roll off when reporting on this stuff.

katiemac · Jan 9, 2008

Speaking of marine animals, scientists are investigating how turtles have the lowest rates of cell mutation of any other animal species, and have mentioned that this may help in the treatment/prevention of alzheimers, along with the rest of the diseases they roll off when reporting on this stuff.

Okay, so getting back to the more dementia/brain-related part of my post ... Alzheimer's is a product of cell deterioration in the brain? Do you know what kind of specific cells this might be, does it even matter?

Wow, George! A smart person would be able to find a sci-fi book in your post there! Very interesting info!

Why thank you!

But really, this is all super food-for-thought. I'm afraid I'm a bit over my head here, but I can always count on the range of knowledge you guys have on AW.

GeorgeK · Jan 9, 2008

katiemac said:
Okay, so getting back to the more dementia/brain-related part of my post ... Alzheimer's is a product of cell deterioration in the brain? Do you know what kind of specific cells this might be, does it even matter? .

I may be out of date on alzheimers, but I was taught it was typically multi-infarct meaning a sort of shotgun scattering of little dead areas all throughout the brain of every type of neuron. As little tiny spots die the body tries to re-wire and bypass. Memories start to be refilled with confabulation (made up stuff to match other memories sort of how with written language your brain will fill in gaps of typos or problems in syntax to make sense of it on a subconscious level). The symptoms progress as confabulation becomes a higher percentage of thought and gradually voluntary and involuntary neural control starts to degrade.

The theory of repairing damage would mean somehow re-growing lost parts and then relearning what was lost. That's where the stem cell issues start to come into play (sort of grow a new brain amidst the dying brain)

GeorgeK · Jan 9, 2008

chevbrock said:
Wow, George! A smart person would be able to find a sci-fi book in your post there! Very interesting info!

.

Unfortunately (for writers, not readers) it's been done in Sci-Fi
Lazarus Long was the character. I think Heinlein? "Time enough for Love" and "Methuzela's Child"?

katiemac · Jan 9, 2008

Again, fascinating stuff. I'm brimming with all sorts of questions still, but I've got a good base to start looking into now. I'm sure I'll be back with more. Again, thanks!

Gerontology, geriatrics and dementia

katiemac

Five by Five

GeorgeK

ever seeking

katiemac

Five by Five

GeorgeK

ever seeking

katiemac

Five by Five

chevbrock

katiemac

Five by Five

GeorgeK

ever seeking

GeorgeK

ever seeking

katiemac

Five by Five