BASIC LAWS OF BIOLOGIC SENESCENCE

Some general laws of biologic senescence are proposed. The aging process from conception to death follows definite and continuous pathways. The decrease in the percentage of body water and the decrease in heat production (basal metabolic rate) are used as measures to show that the continuous processes take place according to previously derived equations. It is concluded that there are two basic and absolute laws of senescence: I. The rate of aging is proportional to the size of the function. As the function diminishes with age, the rate of aging decreases. II. The rate of aging is inversely proportional to some function of the age. As the individual ages, the rate of aging decreases. These two laws are predicated on the basis of general inspection of the data curves, and also on deductions made from the mathematical equations describing the shape of these curves. © 1969 The American Geriatrics Society.