Theodore C Goldsmith
Why do we age? What is Aging?
These questions have bothered scientists for millennia. There are now two main theory classes: Modern programmed aging theories say that we are purposely designed to age because limiting individual lifespan produces an evolutionary advantage for a species population. Older non-programmed aging theories say we age because living longer did not produce a net evolutionary advantage and therefore organisms never evolved better ways to deal with natural deteriorative processes. These evolutionary theories are based on different modifications to details of Darwin's survival-of-the-fittest concept. Both theories explain why different animal species have such different lifespans but they differ greatly in their predictions as to the nature of biological aging mechanisms and consequently the best ways to attempt to treat or prevent age-related diseases and conditions. Although for decades programmed aging in humans was thought to be impossible and medical researchers therefore followed non-programmed theories, new theories and experimental discoveries, especially in genetics, strongly favor programmed aging. This exciting development offers the possibility of finding radically new ways to prevent and treat diseases caused primarily by aging such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, and stroke. This site is intended to provide information and resources describing these developments.
Mammal Aging as a Programmed Life Cycle Function—Resolving the Cause and Effect Conundrum Adv Biol (Weinh). 2024 Jun 16:e2300658. doi: 10.1002/adbi.202300658. PMID: 38880843.
Programmed Aging, Digital Genetics, and the Evolution of Acquisition Traits in Mammals (Preprint 2024)
Mammal Aging is Controlled by an Evolvability-Based Adaptive Program
Anti-Aging Medicine: How We Can Extend Lifespan and Live Longer and Healthier Lives 2021 ISBN 0978870964 (paperback), eBook ASIN B08H5TQ62X ISBN: 0978870972 131 pages, 14 illustrations. FREE PDF Version Book Description Book Summary
An Introduction to Biological Aging Theories 2nd Edition (PDF) (Free Kindle ebook) ( Free Nook ebook) (Free Apple iBook) -- General overview of aging theory status, history, major controversies, medical implications, and underlying evolution theory issues - short free textbook, 45pg, Updated 2022
Programmed aging theories: Aging is a treatable condition 2018 Article describes why modern programmed aging theories support the idea that human aging is itself a medically treatable condition.
Aging Theories Discussions 2018
Evolvability, population benefit, and the evolution of programmed aging in mammals Article describes evolutionary mechanics theories and how evolvability theories support programmed aging, 2017
Externally Regulated Programmed Aging and the Effects of Population Stress on Mammal Lifespan How an evolvability-based programmed aging theory provides an excellent match to senescence observations 2017
Programmed Aging and the Emerging Reality of Anti-Aging Medicine 2016 short presentation
Programmed Aging and the Intelligent Design Effect 2015 Why programmed aging seems "nuts" but is actually the best science.
Biological Aging Theories - A One-Page Summary 2015
Aging Theory Questions and Answers 2020
The
book,
The Evolution of Aging 3rd Edition (PDF)
Revised 4/2014 is available here for
free download. The book covers various theories of aging,
summaries of evolution theories, the impact of evolution theory on
aging theories, effect of theories and attitudes on anti-aging
research, and summaries of many scientific observations that influence
thinking on the subject of aging. The book argues that programmed
aging is the correct theory "beyond a reasonable doubt." The book is
also available as a
paperback ISBN
9780978870959, 8.5 X 11 format, 190 pages, 29 illustrations 4/2014.
Free e-book versions are also available from
Amazon Kindle and
Apple iBooks.
Biological Aging Theories Summary (Short presentation - PDF - 10/2019) also see Narrated Video Lecture version.
Aging is Programmed! (A response to Kowald and Kirkwood "Can Aging be Programmed" 2016)
Why Modern Programmed Aging Concepts are Transforming Medical Research 2016
Aging Theories and the Zero-Sum Game 2/2014 Guest editorial on the importance of resolving the programmed/ non-programmed aging controversy.
Arguments Against Non-Programmed Aging Theories 5/2013 Article describing major problems with non-programmed aging theories including failure to match many observations and serial implausible assumptions.
New Evolution Concepts Are Changing The Way We Think About Biological Aging 9/2013 Overview of the current aging-theory situation written for a wide audience.
Biochemistry (Moscow) Phenoptosis Journal (free full-text) 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Aging by Design (PDF) -- Non-fiction book describes why programmed aging is the right theory and what this means for medicine. Free, 49 pages, illustrated, revised 9/2012. (Kindle ebook Apple iBook B & N ebook Book Summary)
Programmed vs. Non-Programmed Aging -- Tom Kirkwood, author of a 1975 non-programmed aging theory, still thinks aging is non-programmed. This is a formal reply (2012) to his recent article On the Programmed/Non-Programmed Nature of Ageing within the Life History, 2011. In effect, Kirkwood and other non-programmed advocates no longer argue against specific programmed aging theories or against their underlying evolutionary mechanics theories!
New Truth to the Fountain of Youth: The Emerging Reality of Anti-Aging Medicine (PDF) (Free Kindle ebook) (Free Apple iBook) (Free Nook ebook) -- 2012 - Short free ebook describes aging theories, evidence, issues, and approaches to finding anti-aging agents.
Rationale for Programmed Life Span Regulation in Mammals -- Invited paper presented at the Homo Sapiens Liberatus Workshop, May 2010, Moscow State University.
Programmed Aging Info -- Site provides extensive educational material and discussion of aging theories with emphasis on programmed aging.
Evolutionary Mechanics Controversies and the Theory of Aging (HTML) (PDF) -- A 150-year-old disagreement is still inhibiting medical research!
The Case for Programmed Mammal Aging -- Journal article describing experimental evidence and evolutionary basis favoring the idea that aging in humans and other mammals is the purposeful result of their genetically programmed design.
Journal Article: Aging, Evolvability, and the Individual Benefit Requirement; Medical Implications of Aging Theory Controversies Journal of Theoretical Biology. Discusses evolvability as an adjustment to classical evolutionary mechanics theory and describes an evolvability-based theory of aging.
See results of our Poll on Attitudes About Aging.
Journal Article: Mammal Aging: Active and Passive Mechanisms Compares the passive "maintenance and repair" theory of aging with an active life span management theory for aging in humans and other mammals. Discusses evolutionary basis of each theory as well as their implications regarding future treatments for age-related conditions and diseases.
The journal article, Aging as an Evolved Characteristic - Weismann's Theory Reconsidered provides additional information on adaptive theories of aging.
Journal Correspondence: Evolvability and Programmed Aging: A Response to de Grey. Discusses impact of theories on medical research.
The aging resources page provides links to sites having information on traditional theories, adaptive theories, relevant discoveries and other subjects mentioned in the book.
The Biological Clock Theory is a type of programmed aging theory.
EVOLUTION THEORY
Darwin's theory, published in 1859, explained many things about our natural world. Although there is essentially universal scientific agreement about most aspects of evolution there is growing scientific disagreement regarding details of evolution mechanisms and processes. This disagreement results from observation of organism characteristics that appear to conflict with traditional "survival of the fittest" evolutionary concepts and discovery of apparent logical issues with those concepts. Genetics discoveries are central to changing the way we look at evolutionary mechanics. These issues only affect a small minority of observations and are typically not mentioned in introductory biology training. However, they are crucial to theories of biological aging.
Evolution Update provides a current overview of the evolution situation including discussions current scientific issues with evolution process theory, and more.
Life span is one of the few observed characteristics of organisms that conflicted with Darwin's theory. Evolution theory is therefore very central to theories of aging.
One of the issues that has appeared involves the digital nature of the genetic code. The overview in Digital Genetics and the Theory of Evolution discusses the disagreements and proposed adjustments that primarily affect aging theory.
Summary of Evolvability
Theory of Aging.
Summary of Evolutionary
Aspects of Genetics.
Evolution
Theory Questions and Answers
TCG
Biography and Publications