Microsoft Word - KesterkeBRf.docx Book  Review     Sprott,  Richard  L.  (Volume  Editor),  Antonucci,  Toni  C.  (Series  Editor).  Annual  Review  of  Gerontology  and   Geriatrics:  Genetics.  New  York,  NY:  Springer  Publishing  Company.  2014.  ISBN978-­‐‑0-­‐‑8261-­‐‑9965-­‐‑2        294pp  $119  (Hardcover).     Matt  J.  Kesterke   Department  of  Anthropology,  University  of  Pittsburgh                                                     Anthropology & Aging, Vol 37, No 1 (2016), pp.49-50 ISSN 2374-2267 (online) DOI 10.5195/aa.2016.149           This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 United States License. This journal is published by the University Library System of the University of Pittsburgh as part of its D-Scribe Digital Publishing Program, and is cosponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Anthropology  &  Aging   Vol  37,  No  1  (2016)        ISSN  2374-­‐‑2267  (online)        DOI  10.5195/aa.2016.149      http://anthro-­‐‑age.pitt.edu       Kesterke  |  Book  Review  49   Book  Review     Sprott,  Richard  L.  (Volume  Editor),  Antonucci,  Toni  C.  (Series  Editor).  Annual  Review  of  Gerontology  and   Geriatrics:  Genetics.  New  York,  NY:  Springer  Publishing  Company.  2014.  ISBN978-­‐‑0-­‐‑8261-­‐‑9965-­‐‑2        294pp  $119  (Hardcover).     Matt  J.  Kesterke   Department  of  Anthropology,  University  of  Pittsburgh       In   his   time   with   the   National   Institute   on   Aging,   the   International   Biogerontology   Resource   Institute,  and  Ellison  Medical  Foundation,  Dr.  Richard  L.  Sprott  has  become  an  esteemed  researcher  in  the   biology  of  aging.  In  this  volume,  he  has  assembled  27  researchers  focusing  on  the  genetics  of  aging.  The  ten   chapters  review  an  array  of  topics  regarding  the  genetics  of  longevity  and  disease  processes  associated  with   aging.  For  biologists  and  those  with  a  background  in  genetics,  this  volume  provides  an  informative  review   of  contemporary  studies  revolving  around  the  biology  of  aging.  For  non-­‐‑geneticists,  the  chapters  provide  a   somewhat  jargon-­‐‑heavy  primer  to  genetic  aging.  Many  of  the  genetic  processes  correlated  to  longevity,   however,   will   reappear   throughout   this   book   and   allow   those   without   biological   research   leanings   to   appreciate   the   spectrum   of   physiological   and   genetic   pathways   associated   with   aging.   Dr.   Sprott   has   assembled  a  review  of  substantial  use  to  researchers,  anthropologists,  and  clinicians  alike.   The  first  chapter  reviews  foundations  of  aging  at  the  cellular  level  using  the  lens  of  contemporary   genetic   research   on   organisms   ranging   from   yeast   to   mammals.     Key   questions   revolve   around   the   difference  between  adult  and  embryonic  stem  cells,  and  differential  preservation  of  both  during  aging.  The   authors   focus   on   longevity   pathways   that   are   critical   to   cell   regeneration   and   repair,   cellular   reprogramming,  and  metabolic  enzymes  essential  to  life  span  and  morbidity  studies.  The  second  chapter   deals  with  longevity  regulators  that  are  common  across  phylogeny,  responsible  for  both  development  and   inhibiting  longevity.  Termed  ‘antagonistic  pleiotropy’  due  to  their  dual  functions  both  in  early  development   and  in  aging,  these  genetic  processes  are  beneficial  during  development  for  their  contributions  to  rapid  cell   proliferation  and  growth,  yet  detrimental  later  in  life  as  they  affect  tumor  growth  and  other  diseases  of   aging.     Chapter  3  begins  to  look  at  environmental  factors  related  to  longevity,  focusing  on  the  role  of  oxygen.   Despite  being  essential  to  the  survival  of  all  mammals,  the  metabolism  of  oxygen  leads  to  the  release  of   highly   reactive   oxygen   species,   which   in   turn   lead   to   the   alteration   of   cell   structure   during   aging.   Environmental  oxygen  level  is  therefore  a  natural  avenue  of  research,  and  this  chapter  centers  on  hypoxia-­‐‑ inducible  factor  (HIF),  a  transcription  factor  responsible  for  cellular  response  to  low  oxygen,  that  has  been   extensively  studied  in  animal  models  and  linked  to  vascular  health  and  overall  longevity.  However,  HIF   may  prove  to  be  a  double-­‐‑edged  sword,  as  cancer  cells  can  “hijack”  it,  detrimentally  affecting  long-­‐‑term   health.  HIF  has  also  been  linked  to  diseases  of  the  brain  (e.g.,  Parkinson’s,  Alzheimer’s),  which  can  actually   worsen  in  hypoxic  conditions.  The  chapter  authors  rightfully  call  for  further  research  and  standardization   on  the  topic,  and  this  call  is  mirrored  in  Chapter  4,  which  reviews  the  intersection  of  dietary  changes,  gene   mutations,  and  medical  intervention  and  their  effect  on  longevity.  At  the  crux  of  this  chapter  is  the  question   of  exactly  how  these  interventions  increase  longevity:  by  extending  lifespan,  or  by  postponing  diseases  of   aging?  Is  longevity  as  “simple”  as  a  decrease  in  early  life  hazards?  This  also  chapter  provides  a  fantastic  set   of   guidelines   for   evaluating   longevity   data   with   a   critical   eye   towards   statistical   power   and   over-­‐‑ assumptions.             Anthropology  &  Aging   Vol  37,  No  1  (2016)        ISSN  2374-­‐‑2267  (online)        DOI  10.5195/aa.2016.149      http://anthro-­‐‑age.pitt.edu       Kesterke  |  Book  Review  50     Chapter  5  takes  a  departure  from  the  nuances  of  genetics  to  look  at  primate  models  of  aging.  As  the   longest-­‐‑lived  of  the  primate  species,  humans  face  neurological  degradation  that  other  primates  do  not.  It  is   interesting  that  human-­‐‑like  patterns  of  neurodegradation  are  only  apparent  in  more  distant  primate  species,   and  not  our  closest  genetic  relatives  (bonobos  or  chimpanzees),  therefore  providing  a  promising  research   direction.  Chapter  6  continues  the  theme  of  effective  study  models,  focusing  instead  on  exceptionally  old-­‐‑ aged  humans.  Conserved  pathways  may  be  related  to  longevity  in  all  species,  and  therefore  selected  for  by   natural  selection.  Genes  for  specific  diseases,  such  as  Alzheimer’s,  metabolic  syndromes,  and  cancer  should   be  studied  in  centenarians  to  help  tease  out  precisely  how  extremely  old  individuals  are  protected  from  such   maladies.       The  role  of  genes  in  the  effective  health-­‐‑span  is  further  evaluated  in  Chapter  7,  which  focuses  on   subjective  (e.g.,  self-­‐‑rated  health)  and  objective  (blood  pressure)  health  markers  and  their  relationship  to   stress  and  frailty.  Using  a  wealth  of  data  from  numerous  genetic  and  sibling  studies,  this  chapter  highlights   the  complex  role  of  gene-­‐‑environment  interactions  on  successful  aging.  This  theme  is  continued  in  Chapter   8,  which  demonstrates  the  extreme  complexities  of  genetic  and  environmental  interactions  found  even  in  a   “simpler”  mouse  model.  Using  end-­‐‑of-­‐‑life  as  a  single  phenotypic  marker  for  longevity,  the  authors  use  mice   and   popular   candidate   genes   to   evaluate   the   causative   factors   behind   gerontological   phenotypes,   concluding   that   there   are   no   “best”   group,   environment,   or   level   of   variable   that   can   single-­‐‑handedly   answer  the  complex  processes  of  aging.     The   final   two   chapters   highlight   the   recurring   theme   of   complexity   of   the   aging   process   using   broader  and  more  theoretical  evaluations.  Focusing  on  molecular  networks,  Chapter  9  discusses  the  aging   process   across   numerous   genetic   pathways   before   moving   on   to   more   overarching   metabolic   and   physiological  processes  (and  corresponding  failures  thereof)  associated  with  longevity.  What  develops  is  a   cogent  call  for  future  research  on  these  networks,  not  only  in  how  they  shape  the  aging  process,  but  also   how  the  aging  process  in  turn  shapes  them.  The  final  chapter  of  the  volume  uses  the  notion  of  “Nature  and   Nurture”   as   an   explanatory   mechanism   for   the   complex   aging   process,   but   also   summons   the   oft-­‐‑ overlooked  element  of  “Chance”  to  the  grand  scheme  of  evolutionary  processes  that  have  shaped  aging  and   longevity.  The  authors  demonstrate  that,  between  different  species,  variations  in  lifespan  and  health-­‐‑span   are  largely  governed  by  genotypes;  however,  within  the  same  species,  variations  in  these  processes  are   shaped  by  stochastic  events.  These  events,  the  author  argues,  likely  evolved  as  a  response  to  unpredictable   environments  during  growth  and  development  that  resulted  in  detrimental  effects  later  in  life  (antagonistic   pleiotropy).     Overall,  Dr.  Sprott  has  assembled  an  admirable  compilation  of  genetic  studies  of  health  and  aging.   While  the  biological  data  is  dense  at  times,  especially  for  non-­‐‑biologists,  this  volume  represents  a  necessary   and   valuable   tool   for   researchers   looking   for   a   stepping-­‐‑stone   towards   future   research   regarding   the   complex  processes  of  genetic  aging.