We have examined but a handful of the theories of aging that have been put forth over the years. Until recently, no single theory has held sway throughout. Some have described the effects of aging, or have set forth intermediate causes or partial causes, rather than a major, elementary cause. Some may have spoken accurately to parts of the puzzle, but not all of it. Some, like the Wear and Tear theory, are very broad in their hypotheses.

Consequently they, suggest little by way of future therapy, or research direction. The telomerase theory may be changing that, for it is very specific and offers a very pointed direction as to future therapy and future research.

We have seen many important discoveries made in the past two decades, but many still lie ahead. It belongs to the future to sort it all out.

For the present, we - the baby boomers - have anti-aging therapies available to us many of which were completely unknown ten or fifteen years ago. For the first time ever we have the means at hand to virtually halt some aspects of aging in its tracks. For the first time ever scientists - not charlatans or wool gatherers but realistic scientists - are talking about defeating the aging process totally, are talking about human beings living forever, are talking about - immortality!

If much in the foregoing pages has been somber and gloomy - aging and death are rarely light topics - almost all that is before us in the coming pages is about good news. Much of this good news involves the hormone replacement therapies, and the most striking and exciting of these right now, involves Human Growth Hormone.

"His days shall be 120 years."
Genesis VI verse 3