Description

 

Ageing is a continuous process that begins very early on. Over our entire lifespan, we gradually accumulate damage, so the perfect skin of a child becomes rougher and more creased as we move through adolescence into middle age. There is also a drop in our energy and vitality – dancing and the high jump become a tad harder. And our wounds heal a bit slower. That’s why a 30 year old LOOKS older than a 20 year old – its because they have experienced more wear and tear – have accumulated more damage. After the age of 50 the effect of the accumulation of damage becomes exponential, as damaged cells begin to affect surrounding cells causing them to malfunction as well.

What is ageing? The accumulation of damage Why do some species live longer than others? Because they accumulate damage at a slower rate Why do they accumulate damage at a slower rate? Because their bodies REMOVE damage at a faster rate How do their bodies remove damage? By activating repair Do we know what the repair processes are? YES we do. We even know all the genes involved. We have come a long way So how can we slow ageing? By up-regulating the repair processes in our bodies, thereby slowing the accumulation of damage. Has anyone succeeded? YES they have. In 1993, Cynthia Kenyon succeeded in doubling the lifespan of a small creature called c.elegans by increasing the activation of just one of the repair processes. Since that time, there have been continuous advances in understanding the repair processes in our bodies and how they can be triggered, both genetically and chemically

So what does anti-ageing mean?

Here are a few things that it does mean

• Improved health and vitality
• Improved looks and beauty
• Adding decades to your lifespan
• Delaying the onset of the diseases of old age
• Helping loved ones who are suffering from the effects of old age

 

Career of the Future?

In the coming years, the ability to slow ageing will be the most central and important area in pharmacy, in medicine and in cosmetics. We will tackle suffering at its roots. There are now more than 100 biotechs researching in this field, and new discoveries are happening at an unbelievable rate. The time to get involved is now.

 

What To Do Next?

Join the Anti-Ageing Society. We meet once a month to explore the latest research in this rapidly expanding field. We will look at -

 

1. Main repair processes
2. Gene expression related to repair, ageing, disease
3. How repair processes are activated
4. Identifying therapeutic drugs using gene expression, and medical databases
5. Combining different repair pathways to multiply regeneration

 

All students are invited to join – particularly those in the fields of Medicine, Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Bioinformatics and Genetics. As a member, you will be informed by email of upcoming workshops, meetings and conferences at Kingston University.

 

Possibly your decision to join this society will be one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

 

Links

Anti-Ageing Science and Research Meetup

https://www.meetup.com/Anti-Ageing-Science-and-Research-Group/
 

Email

K1835819@kingston.ac.uk

 

Contact

Craig Paardekooper

Organiser SynBio London/ Anti-Ageing

H Cert Life Sciences Birkbeck, University of London

Undergraduate BSc Chemistry Kingston University

Mobile: 07531039200

 

Talks

Craig is available to provide talks to other societies and interested groups at a venue of your choice. Please phone/email.