The quest to prolong our youth has spurred numerous quack remedies and fraudulent claims, but it has also inspired serious scientific investigation, yielding important clues about the aging process and what might realistically be done to arrest it.
In Cheating Time, the acclaimed researcher Roger Gosden tells us what scientists have learned so far, particularly in the investigation of hormones and the paramount role they play in the aging process. As we discover, there may be a tradeoff between reproductive capacity and longevity; the hormones that govern our reproductive lives can turn on us in later years, when, paradoxically, we may suffer from a drop in hormone levels or from the cumulative effects of overexposure to these same hormones.
Drawing on his medical expertise, historical knowledge, and good humor, Gosden shares amusing anecdotes as he discusses fascinating theories and current research efforts that are giving us some good reasons to be optimistic. The trajectory of human life need not be one of inexorable decay and decline. While we cannot hope to attain eternal youth, we are in the process of discovering how to live longer lives in good health, how to extend our biological clocks a bit further, and how to cheat time.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Roger Gosden is currently Professor of Reproductive Biology at the University of Leeds.
The bottom line still seems to be, ``You can't fool mother nature.'' But, as this fascinating book demonstrates, there have been plenty of attempts to do just that. Indeed, Gosden's report on past and present attempts to understand and delay aging is full of delicious accounts of the benighted scientists and clever charlatans who have purveyed one rejuvenating therapy after another--from injections, monkey gland operations, and urine-drinking to today's hormone cocktails and anticipated gene therapy. There is much here for students of medical fads and fallacies. Before focusing on spurious elixirs, Gosden (Reproductive Biology/Univ. of Leeds, England) provides a feast of facts and theories that have colored (and sometimes tainted) gerontology. Here the reader will learn about the wide variation in aging across species, the association of sex and death in some, and the many theories (from high basal metabolism rates to the presence of free radicals in cells) spun to explain senescence in humans. Gosden speculates on how aging may have come about as a side effect of natural selection and evolution, possibly as a result of multipurpose (pleiotropic) genes that may confer an advantage in youth but prove detrimental in age. Interestingly, Gosden's survey of aging among a number of species seems to suggest that being relatively large, having a big brain, and possessing the ability to fly all favor longevity! While Gosden provides evidence that estrogen replacement therapy may well protect against heart disease and osteoporosis in women, and opines that testosterone may find its way into the male pharmacopeia, there are enough caveats against assuming that an easy solution to aging is at hand. The net result of this prodigious assemblage of facts and fancy is to humble the reader: There's much we still don't know about aging. It's reassuring to discover from Gosden's lively overview of research that there are some able scientists out there who are giving gerontology a good name. (12 illustrations) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
FREE
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 8577347-20
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 12321185-6
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust jacket shows light shelf wear. Pages are clean and intact. Cover and edges shows light shelf wear. Has some minor dirtiness on the outside from handling. Seller Inventory # mon0002943425
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. crisp clean w/light shelfwear/edgewear - may have remainder mark Standard-sized. Seller Inventory # 0716730596-01
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bingo Used Books, Vancouver, WA, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. hardbck in very good+ condition with very good+ dust jcket. 1st edition. Seller Inventory # 128934
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Poverty Hill Books, Mt. Prospect, IL, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: New. HARDCOVER, BRAND NEW COPY, Perfect Shape, Not a Remainder, No Black Remainder Mark, MH2-507Fast Shipping With Online Tracking, International Orders shipped Global Priority Air Mail, All orders handled with care and shipped promptly in secure packaging, we ship Mon-Sat and send shipment confirmation emails. Our customer service is friendly, we answer emails fast, accept returns and work hard to deliver 100% Customer Satisfaction!. Seller Inventory # 0706243874
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Murphy-Brookfield Books, Iowa City SE, IA, U.S.A.
Hardback. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. clean, unmarked copy. Seller Inventory # 346602
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Robinson Street Books, IOBA, Binghamton, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: VERY Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE BOXES NEW BOXES Biology, Life Sciences; Very good hardcover with dust jacket. Minor creasing and nicks to dust jacket. Clean pages. Prompt shipping with tracking. Seller Inventory # NTWARE797as112
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Robinson Street Books, IOBA, Binghamton, NY, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Prompt shipment, with tracking. we ship in CLEAN SECURE BOXES NEW BOXES Very good in Very good little torn dust jacket. First U.S. Edition.*. Seller Inventory # lower51rm000
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Ye Old Bookworm, Odessa, TX, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition; 1st Printing. Small 4to 9" - 11" tall; 427 pages; Stated First Edition Book Tight. Dust Jacket shows little wear of usage. Text is clean no markings seen.; BX495. Seller Inventory # U14110
Quantity: 1 available