The Biology of Aging
A Fall 2024 Emeritus Society CourseCost:
$ 5.00 per personDuration:
1h 30minAbout this experience
Thursday, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
October 17 - November 21 (no class 11/14)
We all experience what it feels like to get older, but what actually happens in our bodies as the years progress? Are there things we can do to extend our longevity and health span (the period of life spent in good health, free from the chronic diseases and disabilities of aging)? In recent years, there’s been an explosion of research on the physiology of aging and on the way those changes influence our health, susceptibility to disease and quality of life. Research about the factors that influence longevity (in both laboratory animals and humans) has made important recent progress. In this class, we’ll talk about some of those new insights into the biology of human aging and into longevity. One important aspect of the biology of aging is the way that aging changes the way we metabolize or respond to medications. Medications that we may have taken for years can gradually become less effective or even become more likely to cause negative side effects. We’ll also explore the evidence that supports—or doesn’t support—popular claims that certain supplements or dietary modifications can slow down or even reverse the consequences of aging. The overall goal of the class will be to focus on understanding what the science is telling us about maximizing our likelihood of healthy aging and minimizing our risk of developing aging-related chronic disease and disability.
1. Why do we age? What are the changes in human physiology and metabolism that occur as we age?
2. Diet and aging. Is the way we age affected by what we eat? Will calorie restriction make us more youthful? What about the supplements that claim to slow aging? Do they really work?
3. Can we truly increase our lifespan and/or health span by adopting certain behaviors (exercise, mental stimulation, etc.)?
4. How does aging affect our response to different drugs? Can drugs work differently in older adults or be more likely to cause adverse effects? What is polypharmacy and why is it important? How does aging affect the body’s response to mind-altering substances like alcohol or marijuana?
5. What does longevity research on animals (worms, mice) and humans teach us about possible strategies for achieving longer, healthier lives? Is any of that research close to providing practical aging-delaying strategies for us today? Also, if we can do it, should we do it? What would be the ethical and practical consequences of extending the average life span?"
Your Host
Janne Cannon (Ph.D., UNC-Chapel Hill) is a Professor Emerita of Microbiology and Immunology in the School of Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill. Her research and teaching at UNC-CH focused on genetics and on infectious diseases. After retiring from UNC-CH, she taught a course for several years on “Plagues” for undergraduates in the Honors Program at UNCG; she also teaches courses on science and health for the Shepherd’s Center and the UNCG Emeritus Society.
Rob Cannon (Ph.D., University of Delaware) is a Professor Emeritus of Biology at UNCG. His research and teaching were focused on microbiology, immunology, and virology. He also taught for the Honors Program and was graduate director for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) Program. This fall will mark 51 years of teaching at UNCG for him. He’s a private pilot, and dreams of being the Chief Test Passenger for Boom Supersonic when they come to Greensboro.