CELLULAR AGING

It general, the life expectancy of an individual depends upon the following factors: 1. Intrinsic genetic process 2. Environmental factors 3. Lifestyle of the individual 4. Age-related diseases e.g. atherosclerosis and ischaemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease etc.

Cellular basis
With age, structural and functional changes occur in different organs and systems of the human body. 1. Experimental cellular senescence. By in vitro studies of tissue culture, it has been observed that cultured human fibroblasts replicate for up to 50 population doublings and then the culture dies out. Studies have shown that there is either loss of chromosome 1 or deletion of its long arm (1q). Alternatively it has been observed that with every cell division there is progressive shortening of telomere present at the tips of chromosomes, which in normal cell is repaired by the presence of RNA enzyme, telomerase

2. Genetic control in invertebrates. Clock (clk)

genes responsible for controlling the rate and time of aging have been identified in lower invertebrates e.g. clk-1 gene mutation in the metazoa. Caenorhabditis elegans.

3. Diseases of accelerated aging. A heritable

condition associated with signs of accelerated aging process is termed progeria and is characterised by baldness, cataracts, and coronary artery disease.

4. Oxidative stress hypothesis (free radicalmediated injury). Currently, it is believed that

aging is partly caused by progressive and reversible molecular oxidative damage due to persistent oxidative stress on the human cells. With aging, there is low metabolic rate with generation of toxic oxygen radicals, which fail to get eliminated causing their accumulation and hence cell damage. The underlying mechanism appears to be oxidative damage to mitochondria. The role of antioxidant in retarding the oxidant damage has been reported in some studies.

ORGAN CHANGES IN AGING

1. Cardiovascular system: Atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis with calcification, brown atrophy of heart, loss of elastic tissue from aorta and major arterial trunks causing their dilatation. 2. Nervous system: Atrophy of gyri and sulci, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease. 3. Musculoskeletal system: Degenerative bone diseases, frequent fractures due to loss of bone density, age related muscular degeneration. 4. Eyes: Deterioration of vision due to cataract and vascular changes in retina.

5. Hearing: Disability in hearing due to senility is related to otosclerosis. 6. Immune system: Reduced IgG response to antigens, frequent and severe infections. 7. Skin: laxity of skin due to loss of elastic tissue. 8. Cancers: 80% of cancers occur in the age range of 50 to 80 years.