What is aging and why should it be regarded as a curable disease ?
Aging is a syndrome of changes to organs, to cells and to biological molecules that is deleterious, progressive and irreversible. Aging is caused by sugars which cross-link proteins, by free radicals and by toxins. Telomere (chromosome end) shortening causes aging primarily in the immune system. Molecular damage to proteins, DNA and other macromolecules can be fixed − by replacing or repairing the affected molecules. Telomeres which protect chromosomes can be repaired and hormone replacement would be possible when cancer is cured. For an overview of the subject of life extension and anti-aging medicine, see the Wikpedia entry on Life extension. For more technical information about what science has been learning about the mechanisms of aging, see my essay Mechanisms of Aging.
