Programmed cell death is like the entire assembly line going on permanent strike, leading to factory closure. Disruption of biological clocks is the entire managerial staff, including the chairman and board of directors, calling it quits. Many of the natural ebbs and flows in the body— including sleep, body temperature, and hormone secretion— are under the control of biological clocks that are genetically programmed to react according to set time sequences, such as the twenty-four-hour day, based on environmental inputs. As our DNA decays with aging, these natural rhythms become erratic and begin to desynchronize, weakening our natural defenses against disease. Gradually, over time, the disruption of biological clocks becomes a central feature of the aging process.
By itself, this theory does not explain why we age the way we do. Many bodily functions do not have natural biological clocks, and only a few of the brain’s functions, particularly sleep, are under this type of rhythmic control. Even the heart, a structure that requires near-perfect rhythmic
performance to ensure survival, is not affected very much by circadian (twenty-four-hour) rhythms.
Free Radicals Are Toxic
That’s what some people said in the 1960s and 1970s. But jokes aside, what exactly are free radicals? Free radicals are formed when an atom or molecule carries an unpaired electron. This extra negative electrical charge launches a cascade of chemical reactions that eventually lead to cell death. Free radicals are constantly produced by chemical reactions throughout the body, and both stress and a diet high in saturated fats increase free radical formation. The most common free radicals are hydrogen peroxide, which is formed when a molecule of water gets an extra oxygen atom, as well as oxygen itself.
Oxygen is essential for life, but the addition of an unpaired electron makes it toxic to cells in the body. Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde, and life-giving oxygen metamorphoses into a merciless killer.
If toxic free radicals are continually being formed in our bodies, how do we survive? As with everything else, nature has provided a counterbalance to deal with this threat. Enzymes called free radical scavengers, notably superoxide dismutase, routinely destroy the free radicals that are formed. These enzymes decline with age, and a gradual imbalance develops, with free radicals gaining the upper hand. Many therapies are based on the idea that decreasing free radical toxicity will slow down the aging process. For example, vitamin E is the most widely used antioxidant, and it destroys the bad oxygen when it appears in the body. Melatonin also possesses some antioxidant properties, as does the prescription medication selegiline (Deprenyl). These substances can help prevent the ravages of the aging process, and memory loss in particular.
Taken From: The Memory Program How to Prevent Memory Loss
and Enhance Memory Power
