Ending Aging summary

When we’re presented with a problem, there are generally two paths to explore when looking for a solution: prevention or cure. In the field of medicine, most problems are solved by offering a cure rather than prevention. This approach, however, has major drawbacks.

For example, if someone has heart disease or diabetes, they can obtain medication to help cure their ailments without ever finding out what caused the problem in the first place.

So, what exactly are mitochondria? They’re commonly referred to as the “power plants of the cells,” because they produce the energy we need to live. But you only need to learn a little about power plants to know that energy production usually comes with nasty side effects.

In our bodies, one of these is free radicals.

Just like a household, cells produce waste. And although cells recycle this waste in a better and more efficient way than most households, there is still leftover junk that can cause damage.

Part of this waste product is called lipofuscin, which the cells recycle via lysosomes.

A central cause of aging is the gradual loss of cells. So it only makes sense that creating new ones would be a great way to fix this problem. And while there is a way to do this, politics and questions of morality are standing in the way.

For instance, one method involves stem cells. While we all contain adult stem cells, only embryonic stems cells can be used to produce new cells in our body. In fact, embryonic stem cells can be turned into any cell, including heart, lung and muscle cells.

If you’ve ever eaten meat that has been browned or blackened, then chances are you’ve eaten advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) as well. But even if you haven’t, the same process that blackened the meat is also happening naturally in your body.

AGEs are the result of a complex chemical process where sugars and other substances bind to proteins. These AGEs accumulate in your cells, decreasing their functionality, and can lead to disease and early death.

As we’ve seen, many of the first steps toward fighting aging have already been taken. But despite this fact, those at work on this issue are still in the minority.

This is why the author has come up with a plan to convince the majority. It’s called the robust mouse rejuvenation (RMR).