By Marie Esselstein
It's a question as old as science and beauty. Why do we age? The answer is-because every one of our cells has a definite capability to reproduce itself-but only a certain number of times. The calls all have an "end" or "tail," the length of which determines how many times that cell can effectively reproduce itself. The shorter the tail, the fewer times it will reproduce effectively.
As the cell reproduces itself, the tail shrinks. Once it gets to be too short, the cell can no longer reproduce and eventually it dies. These shrinking tails-known as telomeres-are the reason we age. Fast and efficient cell reproduction happens frequently when we are young. The older we are, the shorter those tails are, resulting in slower and less efficient cell reproduction and eventually cell death.
Nearly every cell in the body is governed this way. This is why we age. But there is hope, found in the two exceptions to this shortening telomere rule, germ (sex) cells and cancer cells. Strange to find that we might find the answer to the problems of aging in cancer cells, isn't it? Germ and cancer cells produce an enzyme called telomerase. The enzyme prevents the telomere from shortening. Thus, in theory, cancer and sex cells can divide an infinite amount of times. This is good for making babies, bad if you are facing cancer, good it you are looking for the answer to aging and the diseases of old age.
Scientists are looking at ways to take advantage of the telomerase enzyme. Can we reproduce it? Can we find a way to distribute it effectively to all the cells of the body? Can we eventually ward off age and disease with a telomerase enzyme shot, pill or cream? Will the enzyme work effectively on us if it is introduced from the outside rather than created by our own bodies? Will it really work effectively on all the cells?
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Only time and science can tell; but, if effective therapies are developed based on telomere research, we may find that we can shut down our biological clock. Grow to be 22 and begin therapy. Never age another day. Never face the diseases of aging. Never watch the wrinkles form. I don't know that I want to see this and I don't know that I don't.
What I do know is that science is chasing it, and if they catch it, I'll have no choice.
Marie Esselstein
http://www.notsonaturalbeauty.com
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