6-5-05 high school graduation and aging

In the afternoon we went to a friends house to celebrate the graduation of their daughter from high School. They have a lovely house with extensive gardens and rock walls. I believe that there were more parents there than kids but graduation was on Saturday and there were other parties. They may have been worn out. aging

I was impressed by how much better the graduates looked than us old people. Perhaps some day we will know how to rejuvenate ourselves. Diseases like progeria where children age very rapidly suggest that this must be possible. Even in children there is a continual regeneration process in action otherwise high school graduates would look old as in the sad case of progeria. The progeria gene has been found and interestingly it is for a protein in the nucleus of the cell called lamin A. It seems to be a structural protein and it is unknown how it biochemically causes accelerated aging. I believe that the normal regeneration processes are compromised. It is well know that the bones of children are continually being repaired by the action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Bone is continually being eaten away and replaced eliminating the micro fractures that occur from normal activities. Osteoporosis results from the bone making osteoblasts not keeping up with the bone dissolving osteoclasts. Hence weaker bones.