The science of ageing has progressed significantly over the past few decades. Not just delaying death but also improving the quality of life in old age. But like much else, there is a lot of misinformation about the science of ageing as well. What better than a book by a Nobel laureate to clear the cloud. In this piece for the Open, Madhavankutty Pillai reviews the book Why We Die: The New Science of Ageing and The Quest For Immortality by Venki Ramakrishnan.
“In 2009, he won the Nobel prize for breakthroughs in the study of ribosomes, which he describes in the book as “a giant, ancient molecular machine that consists of almost half a million atoms”. They exist in cells and their key function is to make proteins that the human body uses for most of its upkeep and functioning. One of the most important functions of genes, the embedded codes by which life is governed, is the making of proteins. Proteins carry out chemical reactions essential for life, allow cells to communicate with each other, allow nerves to send signals, make antibodies against diseases, enable cells to make other molecules like hormones, fat, carbohydrates and vitamins. Proteins are therefore directly related to how humans age. Ramakrishnan felt himself qualified to write Why We Die because his field of research is allied to the subject by way of proteins….
… We age because of not one single reason and most of it is happening at the cellular level. For instance, DNA is supposed to be the blueprint that regulates the process but blueprint implies rigidity whereas the DNA is flexible in its programming. It is the central hub that regulates the cell’s programme but using a striking metaphor, he writes that the cell itself is “more like a democracy than a dictatorship”. Conditions within it and its environment decide which part of the DNA is used and when. The programme is not fixed and it is also not capable of running forever because DNA changes and deteriorates with time. In the book, many of these scientific processes are explained for a lay reader.”
Whilst the book holds a lot of promise on the scientific development, the Nobel laureate provides a more practical and age-old recipe for a good life:
“The biggest takeaway Ramakrishnan gives in the book is actually something that all of us know. That you don’t need to chase a magic pill, instead anti-aging is available right within you by simply focusing on your own diet, exercise and sleep. That is what research into aging also indicates. A healthy lifestyle directly affects the factors the make us live longer and healthier, like improving insulin sensitivity, muscle mass, mitochondrial function, blood pressure, reducing stress and the risk of dementia. Having a purpose in life and community contributes. All this will not only make you live longer in the future but even your present better. As he writes, “These remedies currently work better than any anti-aging medicine on the market, cost nothing, and have no side-effects. While we wait for the vast gerontology enterprise to solve the problem of death, we can enjoy life in all its beauty.””
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