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The Mysteries of Aging:
Is Diet a Contributing Factor?
Glossary
Edward J. Masoro, Ph.D
Professor and Director
Aging Research and Education Center
Univeristy of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio
adrenal cortex- the outer portion of the adrenal gland
age-specific death rate - the fraction of the population alive at the start
of an age interval which die during that interval (e.g., between 50 and 51
years of age)
chronological- pertaining to being arranged in the order of time
demography- the science of vital and social statistics
gerontology- the branch of science that deals with senescence
glucocorticoids- hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex
glucose- a sugar which is the major carbohydrate fuel in the blood of animals
heat shock proteins- a family of intracellular proteins which protect cells from
damage
hormones- chemicals secreted by one part of the body which influence other
parts of the body
inflammatory- pertaining to inflammation including swelling, pain, tenderness,
redness of the area
insulin- hormone produced by Islets of Langerhans of the pancreas
life span- a vague term referring to the length of life of an individual or to the mean or maximum length of life of a population
longevity - the length or duration of life
mammals- a class of animals that includes humans which feeds its young with
milk from the female mammary glands and which is more or less covered
with hair
metabolic rate- the rate of fuel utilization per unit of body mass
mortality rate doubling time- the time required for the mortality rate to double, as
calculated for populations that show age-related acceleration of mortality
rate
nutrition- the intake by living organisms of matter which sustains its existence,
promotes growth, replaces loss, and provides energy
organism- an individual living thing
physiological- pertaining to physiology, the life processes and function of
organisms
postmaturational- pertaining to the period of life after full development of the
organism has been reached
rodents- an order of gnawing or nibbling mammals which includes rats, mice,
squirrels, gophers, beavers, porcupines and hamsters
senescence- the postmaturational deteriorative changes occurring in
organisms with increasing age
senility- the end stages of senescence
trauma- bodily injury caused by an extrinsic agent
For further information please see:
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AE Classic Collection Index
