The process of aging raises causes of concern due to the increased risk of disease, and reduction of function ability and all around health. What if there was a way to increase longevity and health management as our bodies undergo this transition? Through the advancement of geroscience, these possibilities can now become reality. Geroscientists specifically explore the relationship between aging and diseases. There is a significant amount of evidence linking the cellular process our bodies go through while aging with the contribution to disease and disability. According to scientific director of American Federation for Aging Research Dr. Steven Austad, “The idea is that if you can treat the underlying causes of aging, you can delay disease
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This includes the first line of defense, the immune response. The lack of secretion of cytokines seen with aging slows the bodies’ ability to react to foreign antigens through innate and adaptive immunity (Kaiser, section 3). Aging also has an effect on immunoglobulin formation, specifically IgE that is triggered in the presence of allergens. When our bodies come in contact with irritants, an allergic response is triggered to bring awareness to the body of the allergen, by inducing sneezing, coughing, inflammation and such responses (Portnoy). However, with the increase of aging, a decline of IgE production is noticed. This can be detrimental as the bodies’ way of ridding harmful substances from the body is masked and cannot progress. As a result, underlying health issues may not be noticed and can build over time, increasing the onset and likelihood of contracting a disease or …show more content…
A major key of interest is the study of a group of cells known as senescence cells, which can increase the inflammatory response and is also linked to major diseases including atherosclerosis, dementia, and even cancer (Hobson, paragraph 8). Dr. James Kirkland, director of the Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota performed an experiment of mice given a drug known as a senolytic. The result of the mice given this drug showed a decrease in aging-induced alterations. In addition to this, an antioxidant known as quercetin has shown to dramatically increase endurance, resulting in increased cardiovascular function. As a supplement, specifically when taken with senolytics, quercetin shows an increase in overall health
This includes the first line of defense, the immune response. The lack of secretion of cytokines seen with aging slows the bodies’ ability to react to foreign antigens through innate and adaptive immunity (Kaiser, section 3). Aging also has an effect on immunoglobulin formation, specifically IgE that is triggered in the presence of allergens. When our bodies come in contact with irritants, an allergic response is triggered to bring awareness to the body of the allergen, by inducing sneezing, coughing, inflammation and such responses (Portnoy). However, with the increase of aging, a decline of IgE production is noticed. This can be detrimental as the bodies’ way of ridding harmful substances from the body is masked and cannot progress. As a result, underlying health issues may not be noticed and can build over time, increasing the onset and likelihood of contracting a disease or …show more content…
A major key of interest is the study of a group of cells known as senescence cells, which can increase the inflammatory response and is also linked to major diseases including atherosclerosis, dementia, and even cancer (Hobson, paragraph 8). Dr. James Kirkland, director of the Kogod Center on Aging at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota performed an experiment of mice given a drug known as a senolytic. The result of the mice given this drug showed a decrease in aging-induced alterations. In addition to this, an antioxidant known as quercetin has shown to dramatically increase endurance, resulting in increased cardiovascular function. As a supplement, specifically when taken with senolytics, quercetin shows an increase in overall health