RobinZ comments on Open Thread: May 2010, Part 2 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Kevin 20 May 2010 07:30PM

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Comment author: RobinZ 21 May 2010 12:45:51AM 4 points [-]

Is aging a disease? I doubt it. Aging is probably many diseases, prominent ones being accumulation of errors in genetic code, deterioration of muscle, growth of material intrusions into blood vessels ... there's no particular reason to think that a cure for one will cure any other.

That said, I think the medical professionals working on this are aware of the variety of damage mechanisms that need addressing - I just want to make sure that we don't forget them.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 21 May 2010 12:51:03PM 2 points [-]

It wouldn't surprise me if accumulated errors explain a lot of the symptoms of aging.

On the other hand, aging could be at least partly an independent syndrome--progeria suggests that.