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Related Concept Videos

The Effect of Aging on Tissues01:19

The Effect of Aging on Tissues

Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
Aging01:26

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Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Mitochondria01:37

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
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Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
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Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
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Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease
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Getting to Compliance in Forced Exercise in Rodents: A Critical Standard to Evaluate Exercise Impact in Aging-related Disorders and Disease

Published on: August 22, 2014

Disuse and aging, 2009.

Walter Bortz1

  • 1Stanford University School of Medicine, 167 Bolivar Lane, Portola Valley, CA 94028, USA. drwbortz@aol.com

The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
|November 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Human aging is a complex process, not a disease. New research integrates the Second Law of Thermodynamics, emphasizing time

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Biophysics
  • Thermodynamics

Background:

  • Recent advancements in understanding the life courses of older individuals.
  • This article updates a comprehensive survey from 27 years prior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a new conceptual framework for understanding human aging.
  • To explore the policy implications of aging research.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature review of recent interdisciplinary contributions.
  • Synthesis of findings from basic sciences, clinical sciences, and related nonmedical fields.

Main Results:

  • A novel conceptual framework for human aging has emerged.
  • This framework incorporates a broader range of contributing factors and policy considerations.

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10:19

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Published on: August 22, 2014

Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
06:58

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Published on: September 23, 2025

Conclusions:

  • Aging should not be viewed as a disease, requiring a distinct analytical approach.
  • The Second Law of Thermodynamics and the role of time are foundational to new definitions of aging.