Description: In order to better understand the finitude of life it must be divided into its four components: aging, longevity determination, age-associated disease and death. Age changes result from the increasing rate of biomolecular disorder that, after reproductive maturation, exceeds repair and turnover capacity. These are stochastic or chance events governed by entropy or the tendency for concentrated energy to disperse when unhindered.

Description: Presented at Living to 100 symposium, January 2011. The outcome of achieving a way to slow or stop the aging process in humans would have profound consequences that would affect virtually every human institution. In this paper, the author discusses the impact on human life if a means were found to slow the human aging process. It is the author’s belief that most of the consequences would not benefit either the individual or society.

Description: Discussion of the differences between aging and disease research and factors affecting longevity. Argues that elimination of most mortality risk will not create a dramatic increase in life expectancy.