Human Senescence: Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspectives

✍ Scribed by Douglas E. Crews

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 302
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology volume 36
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Combining anthropological, gerontological and biocultural evidence, this study explores how humans came to grow old as slowly as they do, and what impacts this has had on their health and lives. It is only comparatively recent that humans have developed late-life survival, but much of the research on senescence is based on isolated cells, worms, and fruit flies, which may be only of peripheral relevance to human aging.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover......Page 1
Copywright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 8
1. Introduction and background......Page 12
2. Evolutionary and biological theories of senescence......Page 45
3. Human variation: growth, development, life history, and senescence......Page 82
4. Human variation: chronic diseases, risk factors, and senescence......Page 142
5. Human life span and life extension......Page 208
6. Discussion and perspectives......Page 237
References......Page 262
Index......Page 294