Community Magazine April 2014

42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE NATHAN AVIEZER A nyone who has had close contact with the very elderly has observed that the human body literally deteriorates as one approaches the age of 100. Thus, the Biblical accounts of people living for many hundreds of years seem, at first glance, completely impossible. There is yet another difficulty. After the Exodus from Egypt, extreme longevity disappears, and the lifespan of subsequent generations becomes normal by present-day standards, entirely consistent with the traditional 120-year maximum lifespan. What happened to cause this dramatic decrease in longevity? This article seeks to show how recent scientific advances regarding the process of aging pave the way for understanding the 1000-year lifespans of the early generations in Beresheet, as well as the contemporary lifespans of those who lived after the time of the Exodus. Why Do We Age? Why do human beings age?Until quite recently, no one really knew. However, in the last two decades, there have been enormous advances in our understanding of the aging process. In fact, the study of aging has become the focus of such intense scientific effort that one of the leading authorities speaks of “a revolution in aging research.” Some of the findings of this research have been so completely unexpected that scientific journals geared towards the educated layman now abound with articles that describe these exciting discoveries. A few examples will illustrate the point. From a cover of New Scientist: “Life at 200: Will We Always Grow Old?” The cover story, dramatically entitled, “Death of Old Age,” begins as follows: “We can live healthy lives well into our hundreds, researchers claim.” From a news item in Scientific American , entitled “Immortality Gene Revealed”: “Two teams of scientists have cloned the gene for telomerase , known as the ‘holy grail’ of aging research. . . . Cells that produce telomerase are immortal.” Professor Michal Jazwinski, director of the Center on Aging at Louisiana State University, a major figure in aging research, asserts that “the maximum human lifespan might go as high as 400 years.” Aging is one of the universal human experiences. Aging and death seem as natural as breathing, and just as inevitable. Although aging was long regarded as a mysterious aspect of life, scientific research has revolutionized our knowledge about what causes it. As scientists continue to make breathtaking progress and gain new insights into the basic mechanisms responsible for aging, they are able to intervene in the aging process and thereby extend the human lifespan. This newfound knowledge strongly suggests that biomedical advances will eventually permit us to delay and even eliminate many of the causes of aging and death. The characteristics of aging are many. The body produces chemicals (free radicals) that destroy tissues by a process called oxidation. This weakens the immune system, which becomes no longer able to defend the body against disease. Structural proteins become altered, leading to rigidity of the heart muscle, lungs, ligaments, and tendons. Cataracts form in the eyes. Certain cells (fibroblasts) lose their ability to divide (Hayflick limit). DNAmolecules, which are vital for cellular replication, are damaged by mutations. Cancers develop as cells suddenly proliferate out of control. Hormonal changes occur that cause the gradual destruction of the bones (osteoporosis). Critical enzymes cease functioning. Strokes attack the brain. Arthritis appears in the joints. Nerve cells in the brain degenerate (Alzheimer’s disease). without aging A WORLD The discovery of the “Immortality Gene” helps shed light on the extreme longevity of the early generations in Beresheet. One of the most difficult questions in the Book of Beresheet relates to the extreme ages ascribed to the 20 generations from Adam to Avraham. The Torah speaks of people in this period that lived for more than 900 years, culminating in the record holder, Metushelah, who reached the unbelievable age of 969. How are we to understand such longevity?