"Why We Age, What Makes Us Age, and What Can Be Done About It" is the title of the Spring Synergy Lecture by Marc Mangel, professor of applied mathematics and statistics. The lecture will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, in the Current Periodicals Room of the Science & Engineering Library. Light refreshments will be available.
Mangel will address the issue of why we age (or why we live as long as we do) and will explain some fundamental concepts in demography concerning lifespan. He will also explain why aging is the inevitable outcome of natural selection and that, even so, aging itself can evolve.
The mechanism of aging can be understood as the accumulation of damage to molecules, cells, and tissues that express themselves in mortality and declining physiological capacity. Anti-aging intervention takes three possible routes: avoiding causes of premature death, making various kinds of dietary changes, and applying nanomedicine technologies to repair damage. Mangel will explain why the effects of these interventions on human lifespan are not clear.
More information about the Synergy Lecture Series is available on the web or by calling 459-3141.
