Jin Theory Of Aging Paper

Aging is a process that every human experiences, no matter how old that human currently is. It is the process that takes someone from a tiny infant, to a fully grown adult. As the number of years a human body sees increases, problems continually arise. As more people are able to live to older ages, it is important to study the effects aging has on the human body. Studying this event could lead to new understandings of the body and possible cures for the many issues that follow old age. It is also possible that research into this phenomenon could pave the way to stopping the aging process.
Why Aging Happens The fact that aging occurs is well known, but the exact cause of it is not. However, there are many theories. Author Kunlin Jin has a publication …show more content…
Programmed longevity declares that aging results as certain genes in the body turn on and off in patterns. Endocrine theory theorizes aging to be a result of hormonal regulations, and Jin’s article states that recent studies support this theory. The last subcategory, immunological theory, explains aging occurs because the immune system is programmed to decline as time goes on. This event leaves the body more susceptible to disease and cellular death. Jin states that the immune system’s abilities do decrease after puberty, so this subcategory is scientifically supported as …show more content…
The first subcategory is wear and tear theory, which theorizes that biological aging is like an aging car. As time passes and parts are used frequently, those parts become worn down and quit working. Applied to the body, that means cells eventually die off from use, and aging occurs as a result. Rate of living theory is the second subcategory. This subcategory claims that life span is determined by its oxygen basal metabolic rate. The lower the rate, the longer the life span. The third subcategory of error or damage theory is cross-linking theory, which is also supported by recent studies according to author Jin. This subcategory theorizes that aging happens as cross-linked proteins harm and slow down functions performed in the body. Coming fourth in the subcategories is the free radical theory. This states that free radicals cripple cellular elements. As those elements are damaged, the cell cannot keep functioning, and when this continues to happen in other cells, entire organs eventually become incapable of proper function. Jin notes that while a study done on rodents, in which free radicals were annihilated and a longer mean lifespan occurred, supports this theory, other experiments have revealed issues with it. The final subcategory of error or damage theory is somatic DNA damage theory. This theory claims aging to be a result of the buildup of damage to cell DNA. Most of the damage that DNA in a cell experiences can