X-Message-Number: 19228
From: 
Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 19:52:44 EDT
Subject: AARP

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The current issue of the AARP Bulletin has the headline: 

"Can Aging Be Reversed? 51 Top Scientists Say No."

Lead interviewee was S. Jay Olshansky, U. Illinois at Chicago. Also 
referenced: 

www.ilcusa.org, www.sciam.com/explorations

Olshansky: "Anyone who claims that they can stop or reverse the aging process 
is lying to you--even if they're a doctor. It is not currently possible."

A Scientific American article by Olshansky, Carnes and Hayflick is quoted: 
"There are no lifestyle changes, surgical procedures, vitamins, antioxidants, 
hormones or techniques of genetic engineering available today that have been 
demonstrated to influence the process of aging."

Also: "Main stream scientists agree that aging is not a 'disease'  that can 
be 'cured' by ultimate antioxidant pills, enema regimens, hormone shots or an 
infusion therapy called chelation." And: "Mainstream scientists believe the 
real answers to modifying aging will come in the future from genetic 
engineering, stem cells, geriatric medicine and therapeutic drugs."

Olshansky also is quoted: "We've actually succeeded in extending the life 
span of some model organisms. That's the first time scientists can make that 
claim."

No need for me to point out the humor and inconsistencies in the 
above--except I can't resist repeating that, if aging is not a disease, then 
people who die of old age die healthy!  But the most heartening part--besides 
the prediction of future success and the claim of some success already with 
lower animals--is the indignant observation that "[anti-aging supplementation 
and treatment is a] multibillion dollar industry that's exploding."

Right on!

Robert Ettinger
Cryonics Institute
Immortalist Society
www.cryonics.org


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