Endocrine aspects of successful aging : genes, hormones and lifestyles : with 40 figures and 2 tables

At the beginning of the 20 th century, life expectancy at birth in North America and Western Europe was around 50 years of age. Nowadays, women have gained more than 30 years of age and men are trailing closer. However, according to several scientists and sociologists, such as Louis Chauvel, the notion of a "greying society" is not entirely adequate since aging people are physically and socially younger and more active for a longer time. Of course, the other side of the medal is to tackle the challenge of preventing age-associated chronic diseases. In this book the extensive field of research on neuroendocrine aging has been reviewed, including data from molecular biology and on simple organisms as well as on the hormonal substitution strategies in humans. Aging is one of the most complex biological processes determined by the interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Front Matter....Pages I-XII Regulation of C.elegans Life Span by Insulin-Like Signaling....Pages 1-17 IGF-1 and Insulin Signaling in the Control of Longevity....Pages 19-33 IGF-1 Receptors in Mammalian Longevity: Less is More....Pages 35-48 IGF-1 Gene Polymorphisms and Disease in the Elderly....Pages 49-61 Polymorphisms and Male Ageing....Pages 63-87 Age-related Changes in the Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Adrenal Axis: The Role of Personality Variables....Pages 89-100 Aging Myelin and Cognitive Decline: a Role for Steroids....Pages 101-127 How do Changes in the GH/IGF-1 Status of the Elderly Occurring Naturally, Pathologically or Therapeutically-Induced Impact on their Lives....Pages 129-147 Estrogen and Cognitive Functioning in Women....Pages 149-156 Genetic Polymorphisms and Age-Related Diseases The Example of Osteoporosis....Pages 157-163 Are Estrogens Protective or Risk Factors in the Brain? Insights Derived From Animal Models....Pages 165-173 Testosterone Supplementation and Aging-associated Sarcopenia....Pages 175-190 The Long Thread of GFAP in Aging, Steroids, and Synaptic Plasticity....Pages 191-206 Circadian Rhythmicity and Aging: the Molecular Basis of Oscillatory Gene Expression....Pages 207-216 Prediction of Death in Elderly Men: Endocrine Factors....Pages 217-227 Back Matter....Pages 229-231