Chapter 17 & 18
What is responsible for such longevity in Okinawa?
(1) Diet (2) Low-stress (3) Caring community (4) Activity (5)Spirituality
mTOR pathway
A cellular pathway involving the regulation of growth and metabolism that has been proposed as a key aspect of longevity.
Sirtuins
A family of proteins that have been proposed as having important influences on longevity, mitochondria functioning in energy, calorie restriction benefits, stress resistance, and cardiovascular functioning.
Cellular Clock Theory
Leonard Hayflick's theory that the maximum number of times that human cells can divide is about 75 to 80. As we age, our cells have less capacity to divide.
So why the lower growth in life expectancy for the United States and the very high growth for South Korea?
The United States has the highest child and maternal mortality, homicide rate, and body-mass index of high-income countries in the world. In South Korea, delayed onset of chronic diseases is occurring and children's nutrition is improving. South Korea also has a low rate of obesity, and blood pressure is not as high as it is in most countries.
Life Span
The maximum number of years an individual can live. The life span of human beings is about 120 to 125 years of age.
Hormonal Stress Theory
The theory that aging in the body's hormonal system can decrease resistance to stress and increase the likelihood of disease.
Mitochondrial Theory
The theory that aging is caused by the decay of mitochondria, tiny cellular bodies that supply energy for function, growth, and repair.
Evolutionary Theory of Aging
This theory states that natural selection has not eliminated many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics in older adults; thus, the benefits conferred by evolution decline with age because natural selection is linked to reproductive fitness.
Life expectancy
the number of years that the average person born in a particular year will probably live
free radical theory
which states that people age because when cells metabolize energy, the by-products include unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals.