Can we elude old age?

Aging is not inevitable! The war on aging has begun!
Slogan of the American Academy of Anti-aging medicine.

Aging is a fascinating and complex matter. The physiology of the aging cell has been a source of great interest now for several decades, with teams of scientists the world over devoted to cracking the secret of why we age and how to slow down – or stop – the clock. Part of this research into cell senescence is associated with learning more about the “diseases of aging”: cancer, arthritis, heart disease, non insulin-dependent diabetes and osteoporosis, to name a few.

Is aging itself a disease? Many scientists think so and are actively directing their efforts to finding ways of slowing down the continuous march of time. While many theories exist as to how and why we age and die, two in particular have gained considerable acceptance: the Free Radical Theory (which suggests that continuous bombardment of the cells by metabolic exhaust finally disables them), and the Hayflick Theory (proposing that cells are subject to a limited number of divisions, after which they die). While these two very different theories seem entirely logical, even in combination, it is important to remember that they are merely theories— for no-one truly understands why the cells in our body begin to deteriorate as the years pass by, and why they finally give up. Nor do we understand why some people are “old “ at age 70 and others hale and hearty at 100. After all, we eat the same foods, breathe the same air, and often practise the same lifestyle, throughout our days.

Much of current research with respect to aging focuses on determining why most humans never live out the human lifespan. Life expectancy in North America remains in the mid-70s, but the human lifespan is believed to be close to 120 years. What are we doing to so significantly diminish our years?

The phenomenon known as aging results from a number of pathological changes, many of which are (to a degree) controllable. By maximizing our health now, we are better equipped to take advantage of future medical breakthroughs that could result in significant extension of human life expectancy.

Scientists agree that one of the most significant factors contributing to aging is chronic inflammation. As we age, we suffer a number of outwardly identifiable inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, but chronic inflammation also damages the cells of our brains, heart, arterial walls, and other body structures. Heart disease, Alzheimer’s senility and stroke are just a few of the “diseases of aging” attributable to chronic inflammation.

Biomedica Laboratories Inc. is dedicated to finding ways of controlling the inflammatory process. Our continued research into the mechanics of aging, and our commitment to developing innovative formulations that impact the functioning of the cells and tissues, contribute significantly to the universal quest of achieving a long and healthy life.