This wide-ranging, multidisciplinary collection examines how advances in medicine and technology are affecting the aging process and the lives of elderly persons.

In analyzing the state of biotechnology, these essays applaud the positive -- extended longevity and the potential for greater quality of life -- while probing such ethical quandaries as presymptomatic genetic testing, therapeutic cloning, antiaging technologies, and the transhumanist movement. The volume includes discussions about the respective roles of health care professionals, government, and individuals in shaping a workable regulatory framework and unifying multiple perspectives to make the biotechnology revolution beneficial to all.

Featuring contributions from renowned scholars of religion, ethics, philosophy, psychology, law, medicine and nursing, and gerontology, Aging, Biotechnology, and the Future illuminates the promises and perils of growing old in the biomedical age.

Contributors: George J. Annas, Jessica Brommelhoff, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Margaret Gatz, Pamela J. Grace, Robert C. Green, Fernando A. Guerra, Rose M. Harvey, Kathy J. Horvath, Ann C. Hurley, Robert Lanza, Karen Lebacqz, Erin Linnenbringer, Maxwell J. Mehlman, Toni P. Miles, Sarah Moses, Thomas T. Perls, Leonard W. Poon, Catherine Y. Read, J. Scott Roberts, Diane Scott-Jones, Thomas A. Shannon, Richard L. Sprott, Rosemarie Tong, Laurie Zoloth

Inherited disorders of the kidney are becoming important, not only in pediatric nephrological practice, but also in adult nephrology, representing a high proportion of patients with end-stage renal failure. In almost 50% of all children and in 15% of adults accepted for renal replacement therapy, the causative disorders have a hereditary basis. Many of these disorders are apparent at birth but may not cause renal failure until adolescence. Others may not present until adult life. The contribution of these disorders to adult nephrological practice has so far been understated in most of the existing textbooks. This book presents a practical approach to the investigation and management of patients with inherited renal disorders. The book is aimed at both established pediatric and adult nephrologists, as well as nephrologists in training, and will also be of interest to pediatricians, geneticists, and research workers in this field.

The University of Florida has an ambitious goal: to harness the power of its faculty, staff, students, and alumni to solve some of society's most pressing problems and to become a resource for the state of Florida, the nation, and the world. In the upcoming decades, an unprecedented demographic shift will take place; the eighty-five and over population is projected to climb far higher than any other age group. To keep the current elderly population healthy and help prevent future generations from experiencing poor health outcomes, researchers are studying crucial connections between skeletal muscles and whole-body health. The University of Florida is at the forefront of this research, utilizing its nationally recognized excellence in the fields of muscle biology and exercise physiology to discover unique ways to preserve muscle health in the aging and those with diseases. Find out how the proteins within muscle can be manipulated to reduce recovery times for individuals who are bedridden. Learn how older, elite athletes have resisted the inevitable degeneration that comes with aging, and how intermittent fasting may help you live longer and healthier. Step inside the lab where a researcher is uncovering the origins of cancer cachexia a wasting syndrome responsible for 20 percent of cancer deaths worldwide to improve the lives of patients. The loss of skeletal muscle through disease, disuse, or aging is associated with a host of poor health outcomes, but promising new avenues of research are being studied every day at the University of Florida to make for a healthier tomorrow.

This book provides concrete scientific basis that we can conceive the possibility of modifying or even completely canceling aging process, despite the fact that aging is commonly regarded as the result of the overall effects of many uncontrollable degenerative phenomena. The authors illustrate in detail the mechanisms by which cells and the whole organism age. Actions by which it is possible, or will be possible within a limited time, to operate for modifying aging are also debated. The discussion is conducted within the frame and the concepts of evolutionary medicine, which is also indispensable for distinguishing between the manifestations of aging and: (i) diseases that worsen with age, and (ii) acceleration of normal aging rates, caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits and other avoidable factors. The book also discusses the impact of aging on overall mortality and the strange situation that, according to official statistics, aging does not exist as cause of death. This book is a turning point between a gerontology and geriatrics conceived as the study and vain treatment of an incurable condition and one in which these disciplines examine the how and why of a physiological phenomenon that can be modified up to a possible total control. This means transforming the medical prevention and treatment of physiological aging from the greatest failure to the greatest success of medicine.

How might we better understand our travels through Grandmotherland? In this lively exploration, an experienced child psychotherapist draws together a wide range of perspectives on the role and experience of grandmothers. Judith Edwards looks back to the past and forward to the future, while being rooted in the reality of the modern grandmother’s life. We meet ‘good’ grannies, ‘bad’ grannies, and all those in between, as well as women who decided to be agents of transmission in other ways than passing on their DNA. Our guide looks at how the behaviour of the grandmother is affected by personality, culture, tradition and ‘norms’ and considers how psychoanalytic insights may help us understand this territory of life.

Science is on the cusp of a revolutionary breakthrough. We now understand more about ageing - and how to prevent and reverse it - than ever before. In The Telomerase Revolution, Dr Michael Fossel, who has been at the cutting edge of ageing research for decades, describes how telomerase will soon be used as a powerful therapeutic tool, with the potential to intervene in age-related disease, dramatically extend life spans and even reverse human ageing. Telomerase-based treatments are already on offer, and have shown early promise, but much more potent treatments will become available over the next decade. This is the definitive work on the latest science of human ageing, covering both the theory and the clinical implications, taking readers to the forefront of one of the most remarkable advances in human medicine.

The age-friendly community movement is a global phenomenon, currently growing with the support of the WHO and multiple international and national organizations in the field of aging. Drawing on an extensive collection of international case studies, this volume provides an introduction to the movement. The contributors - both researchers and practitioners - touch on a number of current tensions and issues in the movement and offer a wide-ranging set of recommendations for advancing age-friendly community development. The book concludes with a call for a radical transformation of a medical and lifestyle model of aging into a relational model of health and social/individual wellbeing.

Aging has long since been ascribed to the gradual accumulation of DNA mutations in the genome of somatic cells. However, it is only recently that the necessary sophisticated technology has been developed to begin testing this theory and its consequences. Vijg critically reviews the concept of genomic instability as a possible universal cause of aging in the context of a new, holistic understanding of genome functioning in complex organisms resulting from recent advances in functional genomics and systems biology. It provides an up-to-date synthesis of current research, as well as a look ahead to the design of strategies to retard or reverse the deleterious effects of aging. This is particularly important in a time when we are urgently trying to unravel the genetic component of aging-related diseases. Moreover, there is a growing public recognition of the imperative of understanding more about the underlying biology of aging, driven by continuing demographic change.

Western thought traditionally divides the human being into a body-mind dualism, a divide realized in the divergent research fields of geriatrics and gerontology; the first examines the physical body, and the second focuses instead upon psychological and social aspects of aging. Research Health Scientist Christopher Faircloth's edited volume of original pieces attempts to bridge this rift: reinserting the physical aging body and its lived experiences back into gerontology's study of aging. He asks, 'Is it not the physical body that readily marks us as aging?' Faircloth organizes this text around two major themes of the aging body: everyday experience, and the social and personal impact of its imagery, while concentrating on three areas of substantive concern: medicalization, gender/sexuality, and the body as consumer. This book would be of interest to gerontologists, social scientists, and students of these fields concerned with the aging body, both object and subject, as experienced and alternatively perceived in relation to contemporary society.

New science updates the "blue zones" secrets to healthy longevity with a flexible, holistic approach that incorporates epigenetics, nutrition, and mental health. Through his documentary film series, The Human Longevity Project, Jason Prall traveled to select regions around the world known for their long-lived, healthy populations. He sought to understand not only the longevity secrets of these societies but also the scientific basis underpinning their health wisdom. Through his travels, he came to the realization that while the pursuit of longevity is sexy, it's insufficient and hollow-what most of us really want is an extended life filled with vibrant health, meaning, and purpose. We want to thrive as we age. This book combines his own personal experiences with the knowledge and wisdom gained from interviewing more than 100 health experts and dozens of amazing elders from around the world. You'll discover that when experiential wisdom is supported by the latest scientific research, a more integrated picture emerges of how you can most effectively increase your happiness, health, and longevity. Life is a mysterious process with a natural development, order, and cycle. It is lent to us for a brief moment before the physical body is left behind. If we wish to thrive in the modern world, we must create a mental, emotional, physical, and energetic environment that is congruent with this natural lifecycle. The reality that humanity has created, filled with next-generation technologies and increasing comforts, presents both unique opportunities and novel challenges. We have the option to choose a more harmonious path that establishes greater coherence within ourselves, one another, and the environment. This is the amazing opportunity that lies before us. When we live from alignment, all life benefits.

Healthy Ageing and Aged Care takes an inter-disciplinary approach to supporting older people within the community and in care. It represents current Australian policies and practices and takes a holistic view of the older person, and emphasises the positive aspects of the ageing process, maintaining that people age in healthy ways and continue to be an integral part of their families and communities. This is one of the rewarding aspects of working with older people-assessing accurately and collaboratively putting in place strategies that can maintain the person's quality of life. The goal is for students to be able to develop those skills by engaging with the material in this book.

A delicious way to hack your DNA and prevent early aging While some enjoy extremely active and healthy lives as they age, others spend years of their life burdened by heart disease, dementia, and other age-related diseases. Until recently, this was often chalked up to luck or "good genes." But fascinating new research suggests that telomeres, the protective caps on your chromosomes, are actually directly linked to aging. Telomeres, when protected, can lead to a longer, happier life. Fortunately, one of the key components to protecting your telomeres is a balanced diet. The Telomere Diet and Cookbook is the first book to offer an easy-to-read, targeted overview of telomeres and nutrition. Including detailed meal plans and shopping lists, this book offers a simple step-by-step starter program and over 75 delicious recipes.

'Some people improve mentally with age - here's how you can be one of them.' Mail on Sunday 'More than a game-changer, this book's a no-brainer for anyone who wants to optimise their brain.' Piers Morgan With a new chapter on Covid and the Brain, this is the definitive guide to keeping your brain healthy for a long and lucid life, by one of the world's leading scientists in the field of brain health and ageing. The brain is our most vital and complex organ. It controls and coordinates our actions, thoughts and interactions with the world around us. It is the source of personality, of our sense of self, and it shapes every aspect of our human experience. Yet most of us know precious little about how our brains actually work, or what we can do to optimise their performance. Whilst cognitive decline is the biggest long-term health worry for many of us, practical knowledge of how to look after our brain is thin on the ground. In this ground-breaking new book, leading expert Professor James Goodwin explains how simple strategies concerning exercise, diet, social life and sleep can transform your brain health paradigm, and shows how you can keep your brain youthful and stay sharp across your life. Combining the latest scientific research with insightful storytelling and practical advice, Supercharge Your Brain reveals everything you need to know about how your brain functions, and what you can do to keep it in peak condition.

Despite the undeniable physical, psychological, and social effects of aging, most older persons cope quite well and find considerable satisfaction in their later years. Part of the explanation for this finding is based on what Robert C. Atchley calls "continuity"--the ability of older persons to maintain a strong sense of purpose and self in the face of the changes associated with aging. Continuity can help individuals evolve psychologically and socially in the presence of life events such as retirement, widowhood, and physical disability.

Atchley begins with a thorough explanation of continuity theory, identifying important methodological considerations in its evaluation and use. He then looks at evidence for continuity over time in the ways individuals interpret their experiences and make decisions regarding their living arrangements and lifestyles. He examines continuity as a personal goal that most people use to guide their development as individuals. Atchley finds that many aging adults add transcendence as a personal goal in later adulthood. In a concluding chapter, he revisits the basic elements of continuity theory, summarizing the evidence that supports it.

Drawing on data from a twenty-year longitudinal study that began with more than 1,200 individuals, "Continuity and Adaptation in Aging" explains one of the primary underlying forces that promotes effective adaptation to the aging process. This book will be of interest to researchers and students in gerontology and adult development.

The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller TV and radio presenter Kate Garraway has a lot on her mind. She's turned 50, and suddenly seems to have MANY questions about EVERYTHING. Should she get plastic surgery? Will the menopause ruin her life? What's the secret to making love last? Can anyone really deal with the idea of death? And why, oh why, did nobody tell her how important big knickers would be?! As she tries to find what's useful amongst the deluge of advice we are bombarded with, Kate discovers a lesson on why women in their midlife and beyond should be loved and celebrated, especially by themselves...

This book focuses on four of the hallmarks of aging: aspartic acid racemization, advanced glycation end products, telomere shortening and mitochondrial mutations; describing their role in aging and diseases; and their application to age-at-death estimation in forensic sciences in greater depth, displaying the interconnecting pathways among these processes. An additional chapter related to Epigenetics and its role in aging, diseases, and forensic age estimation is also included. This book is aimed at a broad audience: from students being introduced to aging, diseases, and forensic science research to scientists in biomedicine and forensics complementing their knowledge in their respective fields while also increasing their knowledge in other disciplines.

Bestselling author and counselor Michael Gurian offers a comprehensive look at the emotional, spiritual, and cognitive dimensions of aging--and how to celebrate life after fifty.

Called "the people's philosopher" for his ability to apply scientific ideas to our ordinary lives, Michael Gurian, bestselling author of "The Wonder of Boys," sees life after fifty as an enormously fruitful, exciting, and fulfilling time. Drawing on scientific research as well as anecdotes that respond to the needs of his many clients, he goes beyond the physical-centered view of aging and presents a new, holistic paradigm embracing opportunities that come with life after fifty.

"The Wonder of Aging" focuses on the physical, mental, relational, and spiritual aspects of aging, discussing topics such as sex, how men and women age differently, the effects of aging on the brain, and what to expect in the last chapter of life. The book divides life after fifty into three stages: the Age of Transformation, from our late forties to sixty; the Age of Distinction, from sixty to seventy-five; and the Age of Completion, which involves completing one's life journey. In addition, this essential guide provides meditations and exercises to help you map out the aging process and is rich with case histories from Gurian's research and experience as a therapist.

Written with Gurian's contagiously optimistic outlook on life, "The Wonder of Aging" provides a full, constructive, and comforting roadmap to what to expect--and how to celebrate--the second half of your life.

Americans age 65 and over are an important and growing segment of our population. Many federal agencies provide data on aspects of older Americans' lives, but it can be difficult to fit the pieces together. Thus, it has become increasingly important for policymakers and the general public to have an accessible, easy-to-understand portrait that shows how older Americans are faring. This book provides a comprehensive picture of our older population's health and well-being.

How we age is much more of a choice than you may think. Many people reach a stage when they are looking for something different. Others feel that time is running out, or they are "losing their looks." The answers to these anxieties rarely lie in a jar or a pill. As a healthy lifestyle is important in looking and feeling good, so our attitude is important in giving meaning and direction to our lives, and even improving our looks. Combining the latest research on health, ageing and well-being with 30 years experience of working with people, we present a constructive antidote to the myths and stereotypes around ageing, and a guide to an exciting, fulfilling future.

This book presents research in the field of communications ranging from infancy to the elderly. Topics discussed include the role of symbolic play in early literacy development; ageing and the use of electronic speech generating devices in hospitals; sound spectrographic cry analysis and mother's perceptions of their infant's crying; caregiver awareness of dementia patients and the educational needs of elderly deaf persons.