Dr Fossel is a wonderfully qualified scientist. He is able to explain complex material in a simple and clear style, replete with literary references and good humor. For this, he is to be commended. The book is a joy to read.He explains that as the body ages, it renews itself by cell division. However, each cell division shortens the length of the proteins at the end of each chromosome (telomeres). Eventually, as the telomeres become shorter, cell division slows, and the body ages. With age come the many diseases that kill, and at a time that the body no longer has the resilience to defend itself effectively.
He also does an excellent job in explaining the body's need to maintain healthy cell division and still avoid uncontrolled cell division by cells that do not age (cancer).
Based on his view of the work of others, he feels that within 10 - 20 years, we will be able to reverse the process of human aging. Instead of a maximum lifespan of 120 years, it will be possible to live to be 2,000. Pretty exciting.
Some of us will not benefit from this wonderful possibility, as age has already caused damage to the body that cannot be reversed. However, for most people younger than 40, this delicious possibility will soon be available. Other human processes (such as menopause) will not be reversible, as they are not caused by the normal process of cell division and telomere expression.
Dr. Fossel opens a discussion on the ethical and social issues that will emanate from the possibility of reversing and retarding the process of aging. While this discussion is fairly superficial, it represents a good start to a very complex area. He provides a nice range of religious references to support the moral right to lengthen life, and briefly visits the morality of a (moderately expensive) treatment which would separate the haves from the have-nots. (So, what's new? He misses a chance to quote the old folk song "All My Trials".) He discusses the implications of an older but still vigorous population on retirement and retirement financing schemes, education and re-education and climbing the corporate ladder. All provocative and well wrought.
Unfortunately, the book suffers from frequent repetition. This may be intentional, and the author's way of hammering home important points. However, I found it somewhat tedious.
Worse, Dr. Fossel may have skipped his classes in logic and rhetoric. He seems unable to distinguish correlation from causation. Sadly, no where in this exciting and readable book does he demonstrate (or even attempt to discuss) that the shortening of telomeres is the CAUSE of aging, rather than simply a phenomenon which occurs as part of the process of aging. For his story to hang together, this part of the analysis is crucial. And, sadly, altogether absent. He might as well suggest that since aging and wrinkles occur together that the wrinkles are the cause of aging. (From my discussions with scientists at Sierra Sciences (www.sierrasci.com) I know that there are reasons to hope for a causal link, howerver the author misses the chance to develop them.
A rewrite of this provocative book would eliminate the frustrating repetition, and might allow the good Doctor a chance to demonstrate a causal relation to telomere shortening and aging. Such improvements could make this book a real thriller - and a source of much greater excitement.
