An introductory text to the biology of aging and longevity, offering a thorough review of the field.

This volume is a collection of 21 papers comprising conceptual and technical issues, non-mammalian models and mammalian models and including issues such as aging of the female reproductive system and computer modelling in the study of aging.

Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Biology, Four Volume Set is the definitive go-to reference in the field of evolutionary biology. It provides a fully comprehensive review of the field in an easy to search structure. Under the collective leadership of fifteen distinguished section editors, it is comprised of articles written by leading experts in the field, providing a full review of the current status of each topic. The articles are up-to-date and fully illustrated with in-text references that allow readers to easily access primary literature. While all entries are authoritative and valuable to those with advanced understanding of evolutionary biology, they are also intended to be accessible to both advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Broad topics include the history of evolutionary biology, population genetics, quantitative genetics; speciation, life history evolution, evolution of sex and mating systems, evolutionary biogeography, evolutionary developmental biology, molecular and genome evolution, coevolution, phylogenetic methods, microbial evolution, diversification of plants and fungi, diversification of animals, and applied evolution. Presents fully comprehensive content, allowing easy access to fundamental information and links to primary research Contains concise articles by leading experts in the field that ensures current coverage of each topic Provides ancillary learning tools like tables, illustrations, and multimedia features to assist with the comprehension process

The proportion of elderly people continues to increase in the western world-nearly a quarter of the population will be over 65 years by the year 2050. Since aging is accompanied by an increase in diseases and by a deterioration in well-being, finding solutions to these social, medical and psychological problems is necessarily a major goal for society. Scientists and medical practitioners are therefore faced with the urgent task of increasing basic knowledge of the biological processes that cause aging. More resources must be put into this research in order to achieve better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that underlie the differences in life span between species and to answer the difficult questions of why some individuals age more quickly than others, and why some develop liver problems, some have heart problems, and others brain problems. The results of such a wide program of research will provide important information about the causes of many life-threatening and/ or debilitating diseases of old age; it will help find ways to prevent some of the ailments that result from aging, and it may well lead to discoveries enabling the prolongation of human life.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the field of developmental programming of ageing phenotypes. Although gerontological research has traditionally focused on later stages of the life cycle, growing evidence indicates that both the rate of ageing-associated functional declines, and the risks of later-life chronic pathological conditions, can be traced to origins early in life. While other books in the field concentrate on the developmental origin of particular disorders, this volume offers a detailed guide to all important aspects of the role of early-life conditions in programming both chronic pathological conditions and the ageing process. Interest in the study of ageing and longevity had its beginnings in research on the fetal origins of adult disease. This has evolved into a hypothesis on the Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease (DOHaD), which postulates that adverse environmental exposures during critical in-utero and early postnatal stages of development may permanently change physiological responses and cause functional impairments and disorders in adult life. In this book, the contributing authors and leading experts from around the world, describe research on mechanisms underlying the developmental programming phenomenon, as well as interventional strategies aimed at restoring developmentally disrupted epigenetic patterns. Early Life Origins of Ageing and Longevity benefits a wide audience of working scientists, clinicians, and advanced students, and will also interest scientifically curious general readers who wish to know more about current research in this rapidly evolving field.

The release of the complete version of the human genome sequence in 2003 has paved the way for defining gene function and genetic background for phenotypic variation in humans and allowed us to study the aging process in a new light. This new volume results from that research and focuses on the genetic and epigenetic process of aging. While the interpretation of the genome data is still in its initial stages, this new volume looks at the evolving understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in cellular processes, gene function associated with complex traits, epigenetic components involve in gene control and the creation of hypothesis-free genome-wide approaches. Longevity Genes: A Blueprint for Aging explores the genetic and genomic elements that can maintain a long life such as DNA damage mechanisms, epigenetics and the way we can use this knowledge to generate customized treatments. It touches on some of the multidisciplinary approaches as well as genomic-wide association technology used to analyze complex traits. This book describes the hunt for genes affecting complex traits using a high throughput technology, with adequate consideration for the selection of an appropriate population, applications of statistical genetics and computational biology, and most importantly, considering phenotype-genotype association studies. Longevity Genes provides coverage of not only established aspects of genetics and aging, but also new approaches and perceptions in this important area of research.

This two-volume reference examines the translational research field of oxidative stress and ageing. It focuses on understanding the molecular basis of oxidative stress and its associated age-related diseases, with the goal of developing new methods for treating the human ageing processes.

This edited volume aims to better understand the multifaceted phenomenon we call health. Going beyond simple views of health as the absence of disease or as complete well-being, this book unites scientists and philosophers. The contributions clarify the links between health and adaptation, robustness, resilience, or dynamic homeostasis, and discuss how to achieve health and healthy aging through practices such as hormesis. The book is divided into three parts and a conclusion: the first part explains health from within specific disciplines, the second part explores health from the perspective of a bodily part, system, function, or even the environment in which organisms live, and the final part looks at more clinical or practical perspectives. It thereby gathers, across 30 chapters, diverse perspectives from the broad fields of evolutionary and systems biology, immunology, and biogerontology, more specific areas such as odontology, cardiology, neurology, and public health, as well as philosophical reflections on mental health, sexuality, authenticity and medical theories. The overarching aim is to inform, inspire and encourage intellectuals from various disciplines to assess whether explanations in these disparate fields and across biological levels can be sufficiently systematized and unified to clarify the complexity of health. It will be particularly useful for medical graduates, philosophy graduates and research professionals in the life sciences and general medicine, as well as for upper-level graduate philosophy of science students.

Aging can be perceived differently during different times in one’s life. Aging as a process not only influences medical and economic dimensions at an individual level but also at societal and national levels. Aging is a natural process; however, its standard definition in a healthcare context is yet unclear. To delay the aging process and to maintain quality of life until the end of life are two goals of prime importance. Various healthcare approaches are being developed and experimented on to best manage aging as if it is a disease. Nutraceuticals are value-added dietary supplement products and have an immense potential in altering key structures and functions of aging. Nutraceuticals can be a keystone in altering sub-normal performing physiological and metabolic systems due to aging. Nutraceuticals for Aging and Anti-Aging: Basic Understanding and Clinical Evidence addresses aging and anti-aging nutraceuticals based on 10 major challenges, such as cognitive health, malnutrition, substance abuse, bladder control, and oral health, among others. It examines how these challenges can be complemented with nutraceuticals and connects the applications with the traditional wisdom of the aging process. Key Features Examines the aging process, then recommends nutraceuticals for aging and anti-aging processes Describes the aging process from the western perspective, and Ayurvedic medicine (Indian traditional system) and traditional Chinese medicine perspectives Provides, whenever possible, the clinical evidence of the applications of nutraceuticals for aging and anti-aging This book is a valuable resource for physicians, clinical experts, pharmaceutical companies and their experts, nutrition specialists, entrepreneurs, chemists, pharmacists, food chemists-technologists, as well as researchers and post-graduate students involved in these specialties. Also available in the Nutraceuticals: Basic Research/Clinical Applications Series: Bioactive Peptides: Production, Bioavailability, Health Potential, and Regulatory Issues, edited by John O. Onuh, M. Selvamuthukumaran, and Yashwant V. Pathak (ISBN: 978-0-3675-1177-7) Nutraceuticals for Prenatal, Maternal and Offspring’s Nutritional Health, edited by Priyanka Bhatt, Maryam Sadat Miraghajani, Sarvadaman Pathak, and Yashwant V. Pathak (ISBN 978-1-1383-4582-9) Advances in Nutraceutical Applications in Cancer: Recent Research Trends and Clinical Applications, edited by Sheeba Varghese Gupta, and Yashwant V. Pathak (ISBN 978-1-1385-9391-6)