From: Joao Magalhaes (joao.magalhaes@fundp.ac.be)
Date: Tue Jan 28 2003 - 09:59:01 MST
Hi!
I finally had a chance to read the paper and, as Robert noticed, the
increase in longevity is still far from that witnessed in CR. In fact,
apart the increase in maximum lifespan, there is little evidence these mice
age slower than normal mice making me think that the author's conclusions
are somewhat far-fetched.
One important aspect of CR, which lots of people often forget, is that CR
does not only delay aging but it also affects other processes such as
growth, sexual appetite, etc. So to explain CR you need to explain all
these phenomena. It's doubtful that free radicals affect growth or sexual
appetite. What it's more likely to happen is a "global" process that
explains all these changes of mice under CR; for example, mice under CR
have lower body temperatures and so perhaps the decrease in temperature
causes a shift in the kinetics of reactions and the entire genetic program
is slowed down. Now, I'm not saying this is THE ULTIMATE EXPLANATION; I'm
saying it's more likely that an explanation involving free radicals, which
would also have to incorporate an explanation to why mice under CR have
slowed growth, decreased sexual appetite, etc. Occam's razor. Always look
for simple solutions.
All the best.
Joao Magalhaes (joao.magalhaes@fundp.ac.be)
Website on Aging: http://www.senescence.info
Reason's Triumph: http://www.jpreason.com
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