Oxidative Stress and aging

Oxidative stress is the major pillar of the theory of aging. Basically, it is oxygen that makes us live, but it is also the one that kills us little by little, that is, that makes us grow old.

What is the relationship between oxygen and aging? The answer boils down to two words: oxidative stress! Sporadically, there are O2 molecules that transform into reactive oxygen species, most of which are neutralized by our antioxidant defenses. However, there are always some reactive oxygen species that can bypass our defenses and consequently can cause minor damage to some of our biomolecules. Although these damages do not have much biological significance, when evaluated isolated, as we grow older, they accumulate, and these cumulative damages begin to translate to the loss of some functionalities. Examples are loss of skin malleability, joint stiffness, loss of sensory ability, etc. Therefore, everything that can accelerate our metabolic rate has the potential to make us age faster because it increases the production of reactive oxygen species. In this context, the effect of emotional stress is particularly evident! For example, people who have jobs and activities of high stress, age at a much higher rate than those who have a much more relaxed life.

Finally, I would like to make it clear that oxidative stress is not the only factor responsible for aging, but it is certainly one of the main ones, so if we want to age more slowly, we have to ensure an adequate balance between the pro-oxidants and the anti-oxidants!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NEEM TREE & MEDICINAL USES

Image
NEEM TREE & MEDICINAL USES "Dogo Yarow" The TREE of LIFE The Magical Evergreen Tree The neem plant is native to India but gradually spread to many parts of the world over the years. IT HAS BEEN USED LOCALLY AS MEDICINE OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND OVER THE CENTURIES IN PHARMACEUTICALS, COSMETICS AND TOILETRIES. Almost every part of this wonder plant is Medicinal, ranging from roots, bark, twigs, leaves, flowers and seeds...... It's very common within the Hausa communities in Cameroon more especially in the Northen regions which predominantly occupied by the Hausa ethnic group. They call it Dogo Yarow which when translated means, TALL CHILD or TALL PIKIN in Pidgin English..... MEDICINAL USES OF THE TREE OF LIFE - NEEM: * Cardiac Problems: Infusions of leaves in HOT water when taken removes bad sugars and toxins from blood, dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation and balances heart pumping rates * High Blood Pressure: It relaxes erratic heart beats a
Read more

TAPE WORMS: Unwanted 'Guests' in the Intestines

Image
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=261432537653223&id=193799827749828 Tapeworms are flat, segmented worms that live in the intestines of some animals. Animals can become infected with these parasites when grazing in pastures or drinking contaminated water. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals is the main cause of tapeworm infection in people. Although tapeworms in humans usually cause few symptoms and are easily treated, they can sometimes cause serious, life-threatening problems. That's why it's important to recognize the symptoms and know how to protect yourself and your family. Tapeworm Causes Six types of tapeworms are known to infect people. They are usually identified by the animals they come from -- for example, Taenia saginata from beef, Taenia solium from pork, and Diphyllobothrium latum from fish. Tapeworms have a three-stage lifecycle: egg, an immature stage called a larva, and an adult stage at which the worm can produce more eggs. Bec
Read more

8,260 students graduate as ABU holds 40th convocation tomorrow

Image
The 40th convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria will hold tomorrow with 8,260 students graduating with first degrees. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ibrahim Garba, made this known during a press briefing yesterday, saying that the convocation would confirm the graduation of 256 PhD students. He said the number of PhD and about 3,600 other postgraduate graduands was a confirmation of the new status that ABU had assumed where priority was given to postgraduate studies. Professor Garba said ABU was expanding its carrying capacity through introduction of new programmes to accommodate more applicants who usually overwhelmed the school. “It is in this direction that we now allow more institutions to run degree programmes with our affiliation.  We have also introduced distance learning where we admit hundreds of students and we would commence undergraduate studies in the centre,” he said.
Read more