Philosophy Wire: Controlling your age with mind!

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2013-05-03]:

Researchers may have found the body's region responsible for aging. For the first time, scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University report that the hypothalamus of mice controls aging throughout the body. "Scientists have long wondered whether aging occurs independently in the body's various tissues or if it could be actively regulated by an organ in the body," said senior author Dongsheng Cai, M.D., Ph.D., professor of molecular pharmacology at Einstein. "It's clear from our study that many aspects of aging are controlled by the hypothalamus. What's exciting is that it's possible -- at least in mice -- to alter signaling within the hypothalamus to slow down the aging process and increase longevity". [source: science news]

Mind over body!

This time for the ultimate goal: immortality.

Philosophy Wires are getting too easy lately…

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Philosophy Wire: Old people laugh… Why not anyway?

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos [2011-11-03]: Scientists found a way to reduce the cells which do not have the ability to split, with resulting in mice looking more “young” [source: BBC News]. What they “forgot” is that the spirit of a man has nothing to do with the meat from which we are consisted (to paraphrase Kazantzakis). Old people can also laugh and be happy like children…

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Philosophy Wire: Telomerase enzyme anti-aging hope or pure paralogism?

Philosophy Wire by Spiros Kakos: 2010-11-29 Scientists are investigating the use of the telomerase enzyme as an anti-aging agent. New finding in mice show that the specific enzyme can actually act as a block to the normal aging process [Source: http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101128/full/news.2010.635.html].

Scientists can make mice age at a slower rate. Is that good?

Is that however something "logical" to pursue? Is immortality "natural"? Is nature wise or should we seek to deny our own nature as mortals? If common "logic" dictates the fear of death maybe the correct "solution" is the acceptance of that death, since common logic has almost never given the solution to any great problem. Thinking based on personal interest - like the "I want to live for ever" interest - was never a good source for philosophy...

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