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During the last 40 years, biogerontology – the study of the biological basis of
aging – has progressed tremendously, and it has now become an independent and
respectable field of study and research. Numerous universities, medical institutes
and research centers throughout the world now offer full-fledged courses on the
biology of aging. Pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and neutriceutical industry’s ever
increasing interest in aging research and therapy is also highly apparent. Moreover,
increased financial support by the national and international financial agencies to
biogerontological research has given much impetus to its further development.
Biogerontologists are now in a position to construct general principles of aging
and explore various possibilities of intervention using rational approaches. While not
giving serious consideration to the claims made by charlatans, it cannot be ignored
that several researchers are making genuine attempts to test and develop various
means of intervention for the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases and
for achieving healthy old age.
This book takes status of the molecular, cellular, hormonal, nutritional and
lifestyle strategies being tested and applied for the prevention and treatment of
age-related diseases. The book is comprised of inter-dependent chapters written in
the form of critical reviews by the leading researchers and practitioners in their
respective fields. The format of the articles is in semi-academic style in which
research data from various experimental systems is presented while focusing on
their applications in human beings with respect to the prevention and treatment of
age-related impairments. Although each chapter does provide an authoritative and
up-to-date account of a specific topic, a comprehensive list of original research
papers and review articles has also been included for those readers who may like
to follow the subject at greater depths.
The target readership is the undergraduate and graduate students in the universities,
medical- and nursing-colleges, post-graduate students taking up research
projects on different aspects of biogerontology, and practicing clinicians. This
books could be an important volume for the college, university and state
libraries maintaining a good database in biology, medical and biomedical sciences.
Furthermore, this book will also be of much interest to pharmaceutical, and nutrition
and healthcare industry for an easy access to accurate and reliable information in
the field of aging research and intervention. |