Expanded Glossary and Notes - Compendium to the Sequetus Series Page 5

CHAPTER 5

  NOTES: ON LONGEVITY

  SYNDROME X

  Syndrome X is a real condition, whereby bodies age at a very reduced rate, compared to the current human being aging process.

  One recent case was of a girl who stopped aging at the age of four or five, until her death at 20 years old. She was from Maryland USA. It was reported that different parts of her body appeared to age at different rates.

  Another experiencing this, was a six year old who aged no more than six months.

  There is a report of a woman who has aged ten years as of her forty years to date.

  The condition appears to have people aging one year for every four years they live.

  The cognitive development of the people concerned appears, however, to be no further advanced than their apparent body age.

  THE PITUITARY GLAND:

  The pituitary gland is situated between the optic nerves, behind the eyes, under the brain. It has three lobes. The front lobe, or the anterior lobe – is to release chemicals that are responsible for the following:

  1. GH - growth hormone, or HGH - human growth hormone, or somatotropin, which brings on cell growth and cell proliferation

  2. Prolactin, which is responsible for milk production following birth.

  3. The follicle-stimulating hormone which develops the sperm and ovum.

  4. The luteinizing hormone that affects the ovaries and testis. It stimulates ovulation, and testosterone and oestrogen production, and progesterone production (which prepares the uterus for pregnancy).

  Another function of the gland is the release of hormones such as endorphins, which contribute to the feeling of well-being.

  ANIMALS THAT ARE KNOWN TO LIVE LONG:

  Bohead whales, or arctic whales, can live over 211 years.

  In Japan, the koi, a domesticated variety of common carp, reportedly live over 200 years.

  The longest living vertebrates on Earth are tortoises. Galapagos tortoises live 200 years, and an Aldabra giant tortoise was known to have lived 250 years.

  The ocean quahop clam lives 400 years

  An Antarctic sponge lives over 1,500 in the cold ocean.

  The Turritopsis nutricula jellyfish is ageless, as has developed the ability to cycle from a mature adult to an immature polyp and back again, thus avoiding death and possibly has no natural limit to its life span. It does this when threatened. It is the size of a fingernail and increasing its numbers in the oceans.

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