Oxidative Stress and Aging

Rating:
Summary: The science of the aging process
Review: This book is a collection of monographs by experts in the field of Oxidative Stress. The author is Dr Richard Cutler ,who spent 18 years working as a biochemist at the National Institute of Aging in the USA, and who is a world recognised expert in the field of the biochemistry of aging.

The book is not suitable for those readers who do not have a sound understanding of biochemistry as it concentrates on each authors own speciality and so does not explain some basic principles.

However it does contain thought provoking information on how our cells and proteins age. It has a very good chapter on cardiovascular disease that goes a long way to explain the pathogenesis of heart disease being a problem of oxidised lipids and the production of antibodies to these lipids.The antibodies attract macrophages ,which engulf the oxidised LDL and are the initial insult that produces arterial plaque.

Other chapters are hard work and need to be read twice to understand them.There are chapters on the brain degenerative disorders and Alzheimers disease that are too scientific.

I feel this is a good book to read if you have understood Udo Erasmus' book "The Fats That Heal" and will explain many of the findings that this book can not expand on.