What is Biogerontology?
Biogerontology is the molecular biology arm of gerontology. Biogerontology is the subfield of gerontology dedicated to studying the specifically biological processes resulting in senescence. Biogerontologists are scientists who study these processes. Biomedical gerontologists are scientists who work to control, prevent, and reverse aging in both humans and animals. Biogerontologists who are not biomedical gerontologists not only take an academic interest in the biological mechanisms of aging, but also try to develop rational and practical means of aging intervention and modulation. The biogerontological approach to “anti-aging” is based in the context and framework of real and evolutionary biology, rather than almost metaphysical claims for an imminent and permanent “cure” of aging. Curing age-related diseases is one approach, but slowing down aging at all levels of organization is something different. • Biogerontology is defined by the interdisciplinary research on causes and mechanis
The field of biogerontology focuses on the biology, physiology, and genetics of aging. This fairly new discipline investigates aging in cells, organs, and the whole body to the end of decreasing the harmful effects of aging, such as dementia, weakness, and deterioration. The early stages of research are involved with antioxidants, stem cells, free radicals, diet, and immunology. One day, biogerontologists hope to better understand how and why our bodies age so they can extend the length and quality of life. Although scientists see the drastic effects aging has on organ function, strength, memory, healing, bone density, etc., they know very little about what happens in the body to trigger these changes. Biogerontologists want to make humans resist the seemingly inevitable loss of flexibility, sharp-mindedness, and degeneration that eventually leads to death. At this point, they have barely scraped the surface of the field, and it may be decades before their research has precipitated int