Our Genes Don’t Determine How Long We Are Going To Live

The “programmed aging theory” has raised many questions and there are scientists that believe that our body is not genetically programmed to die. Dr. Tom Kirkwood, from the University of Newcastle, has made of the aging process his main research topic. He thinks that our body is actually programmed to survive, and not to stop functioning.

Everything passes, everything wears out, everything breaks

The second main theory that tries to explain aging is the one called “the damaged or error theory”.

The basic idea that this theory supports is that the repeated use of our body wears it out as time goes by, resulting in lost of functionality and the ability to replace damaged tissues.

Because our body is no longer able to substitute damaged or death cells our organs eventually stop functioning correctly, making us prone to suffer from illnesses and leading us eventually to death.

But aside from constant use, other factors also trigger the beginning of the end.

I’m sure you have heard about antioxidants. They are advertised in almost everything we eat and use, including cosmetic products that attempt to delay aging. Well, this is because oxidative damage caused by free radicals present in the environment, the food and even in our body, can severely damage our cells, including our DNA. Accumulation of free radicals is more common to occur during adulthood, because as we grow old, natural cell systems in charge of counteracting their effects loose effectiveness.

Mitochondrial damage and its subsequent dysfunction are believed to be central players in the aging process and various age-associated diseases. The mitochondria, often referred to as the "powerhouses of the cell," are essential for energy production in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Unlike nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA lacks some of the protective mechanisms, making it more susceptible to damage, especially from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Damage to mitochondrial DNA can impair the synthesis of essential components of the electron transport chain.

Some toxins and drugs can induce mitochondrial dysfunction either directly by interfering with mitochondrial enzymes or indirectly by increasing oxidative stress.

Telomere shortening and aging

Our chromosomes are basically DNA libraries. Picture them as a slinkies, where the cord is not made of metal but of DNA material. At the ends of each chromosome there is a region known as telomere.

This region is there to protect DNA from loosing important pieces after the DNA is replicated during cell division, because the copying system is not 100% effective as it reaches the ends of the chromosomes.

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Telomere shortening has been related not only to aging, but also to cancer. Cancer cells may have a mechanism to prevent telomeres from getting shorter and making them immortal.

Aging is a complex mechanism but scientists don’t give up on its study. The reason? It is definitely an interesting process to study, but also, it can solve many questions regarding age related diseases, cancer and who knows, even the possibility of one day discovering the secret of eternal youth.