Geriatry-Related Diseases

There are unique characteristics, signs or ‘biomarkers’ exclusive to ageing. These biomarkers play a distinct role in ushering diseases during old age. The most distinct biomarker is the arrest of cell growth, when the cells stop dividing.

Some of the other prominent ones are listed below-

1. There is a change in morphology of the senescent or ageing cells   (Bayreuther et al 1988).

2. An increase in the number and size of lysosomes in the senescent cells has been observed (Robbins et al., 1970;).

3. The enzyme a-galactosidase has an abnormal behavior in the senescent or ageing cells. This enzyme is normally active at pH 4, but in the case of senescent cells it is active at pH 6 (Judith Campisi et al 1995).

4. Increased digestion of the cell's organelles (autophagy) has been observed in senescent/ ageing cells (Gerland et al., 2003).

5. The percentage of polyploid cells ( those with more than 2 copies of chromosomes) increases (Matsumura, 1980).

6. Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA) also increase with age (Tanhauser and Laipis, 1995).

7. Gene expressions change with age. Fargnoli et al, 1990 discovered a decreased ability in senescent cells to express heat shock proteins.

8. Telomeres are non-coding regions of repeated sequences located at the tip of chromosome. The telomeres are known to shorten with age.