Title:Neurons vs. Germline: A War of Hormetic Tradeoffs
Volume: 10
Issue: 4
Author(s): Marios Kyriazis*
Affiliation:
- ELPIs Foundation for Indefinite Lifespans, York Road, London TW10 6DR,United Kingdom
Keywords:
Human evolution, cognition, hormesis, stress response, neuron, soma-germline conflict, resource trade-offs.
Abstract: The process of human ageing is significantly dependent upon events which are currently
shaping humanity. One such event is the seemingly inexorable progress of technology, and specifically,
digital communications technology. Technology and biology are tightly interconnected, and
this has a direct relevance on how our own ageing mechanisms are evolving and adapting to the
change. One way technology may affect biological ageing is based on the concept of information
exposure which acts as a hormetic stimulus and up-regulates neuronal stress response pathways. In
this way, neurons become increasingly more likely to acquire repair resources and function for
longer, with a consequent overall improvement in healthy lifespan. At the same time, germline repair
mechanisms may need to be downgraded in order to accommodate a tradeoff: a corresponding escalation
of repairs in neurons. In this Opinion paper, it is discussed that how a meaningful and intentional
integration with technology, which hormetically challenges our cognition, may redress the conflict
for resources between the soma and the germline, and result in a reduction of age-related dysfunction
in the subjects.
