Aging

Countering the prevailing theory that aging is the accumulation of wear and tear in cells, scientists studying worms have found that aging may be hard-wired, a sort of unintentional sabotage by genes gone wild. The study, published Thursday in the journal Cell, found that metabolic processes important during development may shift later in life in ways that harm the worms, causing them to age and die.

The AUDIENCE for live classical music, theater and dance is, like, dying -- OMG! They're sitting in the dark in the concert hall or theater, aging so fast that their gray hair will be white by intermission. And someday soon, the last of the bunch -- a doddering sourpuss who writes letters to his local newspaper with a fountain pen -- will keel over in his velvet seat, done in by the effort of yelling "Brava!" at a plus-sized soprano.

A 56-year-old woman who gave birth to her triplet granddaughters a month ago is recovering from a Caesarean section and thrilled. Jaci Dalenberg of Wooster, Ohio, offered to be a surrogate when her daughter, Kim Coseno, and her husband were waiting to adopt. The embryos produced from Kim Coseno's eggs and fertilized in vitro by her husband, Joe, were implanted in Dalenberg's uterus. Dalenberg said she wasn't afraid to be pregnant at her age, but the multiple births did give her pause.

Human growth hormone injections do not increase life span or fitness, and have many potential adverse effects, including joint swelling and pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and a tendency toward diabetes, Stanford University researchers report today. Compiling results from 31 separate studies in about 500 healthy adults, Dr.

Time is chasing Arnold Schwarzenegger and catching up. Ordinarily, a politician's body would not be noteworthy. But California is witnessing a singular moment: the deconstruction of one of the greatest bodies of all time. At 15, Schwarzenegger began pounding, pressing and transforming himself into a symbol of physical perfection.

IN 2004, "The L Word" was hailed as a groundbreaking look at the sexed-up lives of lesbians in Los Angeles. Now in its fourth season, the Showtime series' cast has expanded to the point where its women seem to constitute a small city unto themselves. Increasingly, "The L Word's" new additions are well-known actresses who have found themselves outside of the narrow range of options available -- or, rather, not available -- to them.

Lonely people may have a greater risk of developing late-life dementia, researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago reported this week. The study of 823 people older than 80 found that those who described themselves as lonely were twice as likely to develop the kind of dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have suggested that people who are socially isolated or lack intellectual stimulation are at greater risk for Alzheimer's.

Restylane, a popular cosmetic treatment for temporarily plumping out wrinkles, actually makes the skin produce more collagen, the natural stuff that makes skin look young, researchers said last week. That means the product, which millions of people have had injected around their lips, cheeks and foreheads, has effects beyond what its manufacturers claim, the team at the University of Michigan Health System reported.

THE muscles may not fire as quickly and the bones might creak a little, but all-out, hard-driving competition doesn't have to stop after the diploma's in hand. Men and women who gave up their favorite sport after high school or college are discovering that you can go home again decades later -- be it to the track, the pool, the softball field or the ice rink.

The aging of the baby boom generation is no secret. But Dowell Myers, a professor of urban planning and demography at USC, believes that the boomers' future is directly tied to the economic success of the state's younger immigrant population. His forthcoming book is titled "Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America." Why should baby boomers care about the state's immigrant population?