#scichallenge2017

1. Ageing
#scichallenge2017
A project by
Ghenu Vlad

2.  “ A patient pursuit of facts, and cautious
combination and comparison of them, is
the drudgery to which man is subjected by
his Maker, if he wishes to attain sure
knowledge. “ – Thomas Jefferson

3. Content
 Introduction
 The Biological Reasoning behind Ageing
 The Free Radicals Theory of Ageing
 Oxidation
 Oxidation in FRTA
 Ageing as a Social Issue
 Immortality – a Prospect of the Future
 Gender and Ageing

4. Introduction
 Ageing has always been a phenomenon that humans have tried
to understand. With the constant surge of modern technology,
ageing has become a beloved subject not only to researchers,
but to the general population. So, naturally, we ponder if
immortality, or reversing the process of ageing could become a
prospect of the future, and not a wholesomely surreal concept.

5. The Biological Reasoning Behind
Ageing
Scientists have never
been able to agree on a
conclusive answer as to
why we age.There are,
however, a few popular
theories. On the one
hand, a part of scientists
believe that our genes are
programmed to die. On
the other hand, some say
that the accumulation of
damage is the cause of
our demise. Others claim
it is a mix of both.

6. The Free Radicals Theory of Ageing
 The Free Radical Theory of Ageing
proposes that ageing is the cumulative
result of oxidative damage to the cells
and tissues of the organism.
 To fully comprehend the concept behind
FRTA we must first revise what oxidation
is.

7. Oxidation
 Oxidation is the loss of electrons during a reaction by a
molecule, atom or ion. An older meaning of oxidation was
when oxygen was added to a compound. This was because
oxygen gas (O2) was the first known oxidizing agent. While
the addition of oxygen to a compound typically meets the
criteria of electron loss and an increase in the oxidation state,
the definition of oxidation was expanded to include other
types of chemical reactions.

8. Oxidation in FRTA
 FRTA only revolves around reactive oxygen species (ROS).
 When oxygen is metabolised, it creates 'free radicals' which steal electrons
from other molecules, causing damage. The body can cope with some free
radicals and needs them to function effectively. However, an overload of
free radicals can be harmful.
 What Are Antioxidants?
 Antioxidants are a class of molecules that are capable of inhibiting the
oxidation of another molecule. Your body naturally circulates various
nutrients in your body due to their antioxidant properties. It also
manufactures antioxidant enzymes in order to control free radical chain
reactions.
 Some antioxidants are produced by your body, but some are not. In
addition, your body's natural antioxidant production can decline as you age.
 Antioxidants are electron donors. They can break the free radical chain
reaction by sacrificing their own electrons to feed free radicals, but without
turning into free radicals themselves.
 Antioxidants are nature's way of providing your cells with adequate
defense against attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS).

9. Ageing as a Social Issue
Immortality is often a subject of tales. From a young age we encounter
this term and ponder on its implications. It comes without saying that the
fascination caused by life without death will possibly determine
mankind to develop a way to stop our bodies from decaying. One of the
biggest things people fear is death. Another one is regret, not cherishing
their life and opportunities, or implicitly not having enough to do so.
Ergo, this is where the passion, the undeniable interest in immortality
stem from.
Although it does seem utopic, I believe such a reality would more
probably be divergent.

10. Immortality – a Prospect of the
Future
 In my opinion, the concept of Immortality as something possible,
pragmatic would divide our world. It would create a dystopia,
entropy.
 There are various ethical and moral reasons as to why we should not
delve into such a practice. Naturally, there would be advantages and
upsides, but I believe that in this case, the bad outweighs the good
 Without people dying, the balance between birth rate and deaths
would be shattered. The struggle with overpopulation would
become a very urgent and pressing matter, to which we might not be
able to come up with a solution.
 Furthermore, how do we choose who gets to be immortal and who
does not? Even with ethical and fair criteria, not everyone would be
content with the made decision. How would we stop unhappy
people from rioting?
 In addition, there is no guarantee that profiled immortal people will
not challenge their beliefs and mindset over time. What if Hitler was
made immortal?

11. Gender and Ageing
 Even though many of the diseases or conditions common to later life are
experienced by both men and women, the actual rates, trends, and specific
types differ between the sexes. While some of these differences are the
result of physiological differences, to fully understand ageing and health a
gender perspective is required. Gender can be understood as the complex
and differing pattern of roles, responsibilities, norms, values, freedoms, and
limitations that defines what is thought of as “masculine” and “feminine”
throughout the life course and which all play a role as determinants of
ageing. For example, social and health factors such as poor education, less
access to good nutrition, to health and social services, to property and to the
labour market, generally disadvantage women in comparison with men
during their lifetime.
 In addition, women make up a significantly larger share of the older
population : from ages 50 and over, women across the world make up a
bigger proportion of the population, with their share of the population
increasing in every age group thereafter. The numbers are staggering, with
as many as 18 countries in Europe having less than 2 men for every 5
women aged 80 or over.

12. References
 http://www.who.int/ageing/active_ageing/en/
 https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-oxidation-in-chemistry-605456
 http://genetics.thetech.org/original_news/news10
 http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/05/age/
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3749699/
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-radical_theory_of_aging
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11718765
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901353/
 http://www3.amherst.edu/~dmirwin/Reports/BetterHealth.htm
 http://www.yourdoctorsorders.com/2011/10/anti-oxidants-do-we-need-them/
 http://articles.mercola.com/antioxidants.aspx
 http://www.who.int/ageing/gender/en/
 http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/68893/1/a85586.pdf
 http://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/ianwge2012/Between-Gender-Ageing-
Report-Executive-Summary-2012.pdf
 http://www.who.int/ageing/gender/en/

13. Thank you for your attention!