Ethics-Governance: Article: CBHD: Is Aging a Disease Worth Fighting?

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CBHD: Is Aging a Disease Worth Fighting? - C. Ben Mitchell Editor's note: The following article is based on stories reported by CNN and the BBC on April 10 and April 11, 2000, respectively. These articles can be accessed at http://cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/04/10/aging.genes/index.html and http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_708000/708540.stm. Few people would have moral problems with research to find the genetic links to aging and to age-related diseases. Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, cancer, and other illnesses generally associated with aging are clearly worth fighting. So the news that University of Illinois researchers have found a single gene, "p21," that might be linked to age-related diseases is, all things being equal, good news. There may still be worries ahead, however. First, it seems very unlikely that all or even most age-related diseases can be stopped by manipulating one gene. Perhaps it is so, but only more research will demonstrate that this is the case. Second, a narrow focus on a gene for aging may discourage both researchers and other individuals to forget that many maladies associated with aging can be reduced by changes in lifestyle. Full Article: http://www.cbhd.org/resources/healthcare/mitchell_2000-04-13.htm


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