Perspectives to Modify and Counter Aging in the Frame of Subtelomere–Telomere Theory of Aging
Abstract
(ISSN 2638-1311)
OBM Geriatrics is an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal published quarterly online by LIDSEN Publishing Inc. The journal takes the premise that innovative approaches – including gene therapy, cell therapy, and epigenetic modulation – will result in clinical interventions that alter the fundamental pathology and the clinical course of age-related human diseases. We will give strong preference to papers that emphasize an alteration (or a potential alteration) in the fundamental disease course of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular aging diseases, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, skin aging, immune senescence, and other age-related diseases.
Geriatric medicine is now entering a unique point in history, where the focus will no longer be on palliative, ameliorative, or social aspects of care for age-related disease, but will be capable of stopping, preventing, and reversing major disease constellations that have heretofore been entirely resistant to interventions based on “small molecular” pharmacological approaches. With the changing emphasis from genetic to epigenetic understandings of pathology (including telomere biology), with the use of gene delivery systems (including viral delivery systems), and with the use of cell-based therapies (including stem cell therapies), a fatalistic view of age-related disease is no longer a reasonable clinical default nor an appropriate clinical research paradigm.
Precedence will be given to papers describing fundamental interventions, including interventions that affect cell senescence, patterns of gene expression, telomere biology, stem cell biology, and other innovative, 21st century interventions, especially if the focus is on clinical applications, ongoing clinical trials, or animal trials preparatory to phase 1 human clinical trials.
Papers must be clear and concise, but detailed data is strongly encouraged. The journal publishes a variety of article types (Original Research, Review, Communication, Opinion, Comment, Conference Report, Technical Note, Book Review, etc.). There is no restriction on the length of the papers and we encourage scientists to publish their results in as much detail as possible.
Publication Speed (median values for papers published in 2023): Submission to First Decision: 5.7 weeks; Submission to Acceptance: 17.9 weeks; Acceptance to Publication: 7 days (1-2 days of FREE language polishing included)
Special Issue
Perspectives on Telomeres and Aging II
Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Open) Submit Now
Guest Editors
Michael Fossel, MD, PhD
1. President of Telocyte (http://www.telocyte.com), Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
2. Retired Clinical Professor of Medicine, Michigan State University, Ada, MI 49301, USA
Research Interests: human aging; telomeres; telomerase therapy; age-related diseases; Alzheimer's disease
Kurt Whittemore, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital
Research Interests: Molecular biology; Aging; Gene therapy; Telomeres; Telomerase
Muthuswamy Balasubramanyam, PhD., FAMS., MNASc., FAPASc., FASCh
ICMR Emeritus Scientist, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, India
Research Interests: Disease-biology & molecular medicine; Healthy aging vs accelerated aging; Telomere biology and senescence mechanisms; Omics advancements in diabetes and its complications; Exercise physiology; Early biomarkers for diabetes, GDM and vascular complications; POC-medical devices; Role of endocrine disruptors; Probiotics; Traditional medicine and epigenetics
About This Topic
The role of telomeres in the aging process is still not fully defined and can even be controversial. Leonard Hayflick first discovered that mammalian cells divide a limited number of times before reaching a limit and entering senescence. The introduction of telomerase into such cells can overcome this limit. Telomerase is also over-expressed in most cancers, allowing these cells to divide indefinitely. However, the idea that telomere length is a key part of the aging process in mammals has been complicated by the fact that lab mice are born with much longer telomeres than humans, and telomerase knockout mice do not live much shorter lives until subsequent generations. Some researchers argue that telomeres play little role in the aging process and that epigenetic changes measured by tools such as methylation clocks are a more effective means of studying the aging process. On the other hand, over-expression of the telomerase gene in mice has resulted in longer lifespans or improved health in the studies from several independent research groups. Given the evidence accumulated over the decades, what is the role of telomere length, telomere shortening rate, telomerase, and senescent cells on the aging process?
Manuscript Submission Information
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Publication
Perspectives to Modify and Counter Aging in the Frame of Subtelomere–Telomere Theory of AgingAbstract The interpretation of aging as an adaptive and programmed phenomenon implies the existence of specific genetically determined and regulated aging-causing mechanisms. This interpretation is in contrast to the explanation of aging as the gradual accumulation of the effects of harmful factors that are only partially countered by natural selection [...] |
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