General theory of mortality and aging.

Abstract

A theory of the kinetics of death is presented which is based upon the experimentally determined Gompertz function and the postulates that the distribution of stress magnitudes is a Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution and an organism dies when stress magnitude exceeds the organism's maximum ability to compensate therefor. The theory predicts a zero-order loss of function versus age. This is borne out in human males by independent observation. The theory permits several independent calculations of the value of B, the percent of loss per year of physiologic function. The calculated values range from 0.9 to 1.4 percent per year and agree closely with the observed rates in human males. The theory predicts an inverse linear relationship between Gompertz slope and ln R/ sub 0/ (intercept), which is closely confirmed by observation. The theory predicts that the mean ratio of maximum reserve capacity to average demand lies between 7 and 11. Independent physiologic measurement data are in reasonable agreement with these values. The theory predicts the observed effects of prolonged or instantaneous exposure of experimental animals to ionizing radiation. The relative deleteriousness (D) of various national environments can be calculated. They have been found to differ by approximately 50 percent. We have beenmore » unable to make an independent test of these relative values. Despite the fact that it is derived for a homogeneous population the theory is shown to be not inconsistent with individual variability within a population. (auth)« less