According to Theodore Goldsmith he wrote Aging by Design because, “We cannot hope to understand or most effectively treat and prevent age-related diseases without understanding aging.”

The author covers two modern theories for why we age.  He discusses the pros, cons, and implications for each theory.

1.  In the programmed aging theories, organisms purposely self-limit their lifespans and processes what amount to suicide mechanisms to accomplish this function.
2. Aging is the result of the body’s inability to better combat deteriorative processes that affect all organized systems, such as wear-and-tear, oxidation, other molecular damage, or accumulation of toxic byproducts.

Before, reading this book I never considered the benefits of age related research or how that research could help find cures for common diseases that plague mankind.  This book  was eye-opening and put medical research in a whole new light for me.

I highly recommend this book.