Stealing Time: The New Science of Aging

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Summary: A fascinating introduction to the anti-aging research.
Review: "Stealing Time, The New Science of Aging" is a captivating, easy-to-read and understand introduction to the field of anti-aging. His language is highly descriptive--he shows you, not tells you. I felt transported onto a field trip led by science journalist and television producer, Fred Warshofsky, who took me to the labs of top longevity researchers and delved into their work. I felt I was on a field trip for good reason: this is the companion book to the PBS documentary of the same name. I didn't see the documentary, but this book is complete in and of itself. Sprinkled through the book are interesting discussions and questions Warshofsky goes on to answer. For example, why are men able to father children at any age, whereas women go through menopause? Why are elderly folks revered in pre-industrial tribal societies, but not in the United States? The book, published in 1999, provides a great overview of the important anti-aging research up though the end of the 20th century.

Below are the eight chapter headings, along with some commentary and take-home points:

1. The Aging Paradox - Why are the people who make it past 85 a generally hardy and healthy group? Warshofsky cites a 1995 study which found "that medical expenditures for the last two years of life average $22,600 for people who die at seventy, but just $8300 for people who live to be one hundred."

2. Other Species - This chapter contains many interesting discussions of the longevity of many species, including mice who may live to age four, to the giant tortoise who can live to be well over 100, the latter with showing signs aging. An especially fascinating study was zoologist Steven Austad's study of opossums. Why do opossums on an island off the coast of Georgia age more slowly and live 50 percent longer than their mainland cousins? (See page 64.)

3. The Genetics of Aging - Genetics can be complicated, but Warshofsky simplifies them enough so the educated layperson can understand the research in this field. One interesting study discussed is Michael Rose's work on fruit flies, which mate at about 14 days and typically live for a month. For generation after generation of fruit flies, Rose only let eggs hatch from the oldest flies. The generation of flies visited by the author mated up to 50 days and lived for up to 5 months, giving hope that extending life is possible.

4. Extending Life - Caloric restriction is examined in depth in this chapter, which includes an interview with Dr. Roy Walford, then age 74 and on nutritionally dense caloric diet expecting to extend his lifespan by 15 to 20 years. Although Walford subsequently died at age 79 of ALS, there is still plenty of evidence that nutritionally dense caloric restriction has the potential to significantly increase longevity.

5. Exercise and Hormones - If you just read one chapter, read this one! Cardiovascular and strength training physical activity are important for staying healthy and reversing part of the aging process. Among the exercise researchers Warshofsky interviews is Dr. Miriam Nelson at Tufts University, who found that people can build muscle and increase their strength and activities of daily living even in their 80s and 90s. Also, this chapter discusses human growth hormone (HGH) which was found to improve tissue repair, bone strength and brain function among other things. It's been found that people can increase their HGH naturally through physical activity.

6. Mastering the Mind - People (and rats) who are successful at aging keep their minds mentally challenged.

7. Alzheimers and the Chemistry of the Aging Brain - This chapter briefly explores theories of dementia, and discusses the Nun's study. The Nun's study found that the more highly educated nuns with bachelor's degrees or higher live about four years longer than the less highly educated sisters, with better mental and physical functioning. One caveat about this chapter: About half the chapter discusses estrogen, found to help improve memory in menopausal women, only in glowing terms. Several years after publication of this book, the National Institutes of Health halted their estrogen replacement due to increased risk of stroke and lack of improvement in heart disease. The downside of estrogen replacement therapy, including increased risk of breast cancer is not discussed.

8. Tomorrow - This brief chapter covers some odds and ends not discussed in other chapters, such as that people who live to be 100 tend to have strong, mentally tough personalities along with deep spiritual beliefs.

Some take home points for living longer and healthier lives emerge from the research in this book:

* Stay physically active, with regular cardiovascular exercise and strength training. In fact, women who exercise four hours a week reduce their risk of breast cancer by more than one third.
* Eat a healthy diet which includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
* Stay mentally active.
* Reduce stress.

Overall, if you want to learn about anti-aging and longevity, this book is a great place to begin.