The Mystery of Human Aging | Björn Schumacher, PhD
The Mystery of Human Aging: Exploring Cellular Processes, Industry Myths, and Anti-Aging Innovations
Björn Schumacher | 2017
The Inquisitive Reader's Guide to a Timeless Question: How can we turn back the clock? Health food, gyms and cosmetic companies promise us everlasting youth, but the effects of aging are caused by complex biological processes at the level of the cell, processes that have only been brought to light through gerontology research over the past two decades. For millennia, we’ve sought magic potions and fountains of youth, but the fundamental process of aging has remained a profound mystery. Until now. The author shows what we can do to protect ourselves and what exciting breakthroughs scientists are still working on, and he asks which industries benefit by peddling dubious information and dubious remedies.
In The Mystery of Human Aging, renowned scientist Dr. Björn Schumacher invites you on a tour de force through one of the most exciting and rapidly advancing fields of science. He begins not in a modern laboratory, but with the very origins of life, exploring how the propensity to age is woven into the fabric of our DNA and has been a property of life since the time of single-celled organisms. Written with remarkable clarity, the book makes complex biology accessible, guiding you through the discovery of DNA’s double helix, the "central dogma" that governs our cells, and the revolutionary moment scientists first proved that a single gene could double the lifespan of a tiny nematode worm.
But this is not just a story about worms and genes. Schumacher masterfully connects this foundational science to our own lives. You will learn about rare genetic diseases that cause children to age prematurely, offering startling clues into the normal aging process. You'll discover the constant battle being waged inside your cells to repair tens of thousands of daily assaults on your DNA—a battle that balances us on a knife’s edge between aging and cancer. The book delves into the roles of our cellular power plants (mitochondria), the surprising health benefits of "good" stress (a concept known as hormesis), and the hard science behind whether caloric restriction can truly extend our healthy years.
The Mystery of Human Aging is not a book of false promises or science fiction fantasies of eternal life. Instead, it is an essential resource for the curious mind. It provides the understanding needed to separate anti-aging hype from genuine scientific progress and empowers you with the knowledge of what aging truly is. Dr. Schumacher’s impeccable timing and expert guidance make this the perfect book for anyone who wants to comprehend the biological journey we are all on and what the future may hold for a society where living to 100 is no longer a surprise.