Index of topics related to life extension

Index of Topics Related to Life Extension

Life extension encompasses a broad range of practices, theories, and industries aimed at slowing, stopping, or reversing the aging process with the goal of extending both the maximum and average lifespan of individuals. It is a multidisciplinary field involving biology, medicine, genetics, diet and nutrition, and technology, among others. This index provides an overview of key topics, concepts, and areas of research related to life extension.

A

• Aging - The process of becoming older, a series of functional changes that occur in living organisms over time.
• Antioxidants - Molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules, potentially slowing aging.
• Autophagy - The body's way of cleaning out damaged cells, to regenerate newer, healthier cells.

B

• Biogerontology - The study of the biological processes of aging and the potential ways to intervene in them.
• Biotechnology - The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, often applied in life extension research.

C

• Caloric Restriction - A dietary regimen that reduces calorie intake without incurring malnutrition, shown to extend lifespan in some animal models.
• Cryonics - The low-temperature freezing of a human corpse or severed head, with the speculative hope that resurrection may be possible in the future.

D

• DNA Repair - The collection of processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to the DNA molecules that encode its genome.

E

• Epigenetics - The study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

F

• Free Radicals - Atoms or molecules that contain unpaired electrons and can cause cellular damage, potentially contributing to aging.

G

• Genetic Engineering - The direct manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology.
• Gerontology - The study of aging and the problems of the aged.

H

• Hormesis - The process by which a beneficial effect (improved health, stress tolerance, growth, or longevity) results from exposure to low doses of an agent that is otherwise toxic or lethal when given at higher doses.

I

• Immunosenescence - The gradual deterioration of the immune system brought on by natural age advancement.

L

• Life Extension - The study of slowing down or reversing the processes of aging to extend both the maximum and average lifespan.
• Longevity - A measure of a given individual's lifespan, in the context of life extension, the focus is on increasing this measure.

M

• Mitochondrial Theory of Aging - A theory that attributes aging to the damage of mitochondria DNA over time.

N

• Nanotechnology - The manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale, potentially used for repairing or enhancing cellular function.

P

• Pharmacogenomics - The study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs, with potential applications in developing treatments that could extend lifespan or improve healthspan.

R

• Regenerative Medicine - A branch of translational research in tissue engineering and molecular biology which deals with the process of replacing, engineering or regenerating human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function.
• Resveratrol - A compound found in red wine thought to have antioxidant properties, which has been studied for its potential life-extending effects.

S

• Senescence - The condition or process of deterioration with age. Cell senescence is a phenomenon where isolated cells demonstrate a limited ability to divide.
• Stem Cells - Undifferentiated biological cells that can differentiate into specialized cells and can divide to produce more stem cells, with potential applications in life extension.

T

• Telomerase - An enzyme that adds DNA sequence repeats to the 3' end of DNA strands in the telomere regions, which are found at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, potentially involved in aging and cancer.
• Telomeres - A region of repetitive nucleotide sequences at each end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration or from fusion with neighboring chromosomes.

V

• Vitamins - Organic molecules that are an essential micronutrient, necessary in small amounts for the proper functioning of metabolism, some of which are researched for their potential life-extending benefits.