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The trajectory of life. Decreasing physiological network complexity through changing fractal patterns
Joachim P Sturmberg1, Jeanette M Bennett2, Martin Picard3
1Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Wamberal, NSW, Australia.
Frontiers in Physiology
|June 18, 2015
Summary
This paper explores how the complexity and variability of biological rhythms relate to health and aging. Understanding these connections can help improve patient care and develop new health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Complex Systems Theory
- Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics
Background:
- The human body functions as interconnected complex adaptive systems.
- Aging is characterized by a decline in adaptive function and system coordination.
- Interdependence of organ systems is crucial for understanding development and aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between health, complexity, variability, and entropy production.
- To understand aging and improve patient care by analyzing system dynamics.
- To explore how biological rhythm variability reflects overall system complexity and health.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of theoretical models from physiology and thermodynamics.
- Analysis of non-linear time-series data.
- Review of physiological mechanisms linking omics, stress, immune, and metabolic systems.
Main Results:
- Healthy biological rhythms exhibit complex variability, reflecting network interconnectedness.
- Aging is associated with a loss of variability across multiple biological scales.
- System complexity, potentially reflected in biologic rhythm variability, may define health.
Conclusions:
- The integrity of whole-body complexity may be linked to biologic rhythm variability.
- Understanding system interdependence is key to addressing aging and health.
- Harnessing insights into complexity and variability can inform therapeutic and preventative strategies.
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