Aging Flashcards
1
Q
How is aging heterogenous?
A
- Individuals age at different rates
- Different organs age at different rates
2
Q
What is cellular senescence?
A
- Essentially irreversible cell cycle arrest caused by oncogenic and metabolic insults
- In younger organisms, thought to be a way to prevent damaged cells from proliferating
3
Q
Older organisms have ____ and ____ that contribute to more senescent cells.
A
DNA damage, shorter telomeres
4
Q
What is the Hayflick Limit?
A
Normal cells only have a limited capacity for replication - when this limit is reached, cells become senescent.
5
Q
What is the significance of telomeres in aging?
A
- Telomere DNA is lost with every round of cell division and shortened telomeres trigger cellular senescence
- Telomerase is an enzyme that adds DNA back onto telomores
6
Q
Disregulated telomerase can result in…
A
Cells with limitless replication potential, leading to cancer
7
Q
Psychosocial theories of aging explain…
A
WHO is aging
8
Q
Evolutationary theories of aging explain…
A
WHY we age
