Delaying Aging and Extending Life – An Ancient Dream Revisited : Using Body Regimens as a Window to Reflect on Aging, Identity, and the Body Author: Diane M. Watts-Roy Persistent link: http://hdl.handle.net/2345/1370 This work is posted on eScholarship@BC, Boston College University Libraries. Boston College Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, 2008 Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted. Boston College The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Department of Sociology DELAYING AGING AND EXTENDING LIFE – AN ANCIENT DREAM REVISITED: USING BODY REGIMENS AS A WINDOW TO REFLECT ON AGING, IDENTITY, AND THE BODY by DIANE MARIE WATTS-ROY Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2008 © copyright by DIANE MARIE WATTS-ROY 2008 Delaying Aging and Extending Life – An Ancient Dream Revisited: Using Body Regimens as a Window to Reflect on Aging, Identity, and the Body Diane M. Watts-Roy Under the supervision of dissertation advisor Dr. John B. Williamson Abstract: The desire to defy the aging process and to prolong the lifespan has long captured the human imagination. Recognized as one of the most ancient known pieces of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh documents a King’s quest to find immortality. More recent examples include the story of Ponce de Leon’s 16th century search to discover the Fountain of Youth, Sir Francis Bacon’s (1659) assertion that humans are naturally immortal “potens non mori,” and Benjamin Franklin’s desire to be preserved in a vat of madeira until science is capable of life extension. Developments in science and technology, including telomere manipulation, genetic engineering, cloning, nanotechnology, the potential to create new organs from stem cells, and the creation of therapeutic pharmaceuticals that could significantly postpone disease, have served to inspire; aging in the 21st century is no longer regarded by scientists as an inevitable process programmed by evolution (Olshansky et al. 2006). Situated within a detailed historical overview, this qualitative research project explores the experiences of individuals engaged in practices currently implicated in potentially delaying aging and even extending life. Based on information from 44 in-depth interviews, this research explores issues such as lay understandings of the biology of aging, conceptualizations of the inner body, the use of and experience with optimization technologies, and the embodied effects of participation in anti-aging and life-extension body regimens. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation could not have been completed without the extremely generous help that I received from a number of very special people. I am especially grateful for the guidance of my dissertation committee chair and mentor Dr. John B. Williamson, who offered steadfast encouragement and assistance throughout my doctoral education, exemplifying what it means to be an outstanding teacher, scholar, and mentor. He and the other faculty members on my committee, Dr. David A. Karp, Dr. Stephen J. Pfohl, and Dr. Robert H. Binstock, supported me through this dissertation process, offering many invaluable insights and suggestions, and always encouraging me to do my best work. I am indebted to each of them. I would also like to recognize Boston College for the institutional support that I received throughout my academic studies. Finally, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my family and friends for all of the encouragement, understanding, and kindness I received during this educational journey. You are my inspiration. Thank you for being there every step of the way. i TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Body Regimens Implicated in Delaying Aging and/or 1 Extending Life – A Brief Overview and Introduction Chapter 2 Body Regimen as “Career” 38 Chapter 3 Body Regimens and the Construction of Identity 82 Chapter 4 Responding to “Risk Society” with the “To Do” Imperative 136 Chapter 5 Shared Grievances about Allopathic Medicine: the Encounter, 188 the Outcome, and the “Political Economy of Illness” Chapter 6 Metaphors of Aging: Consumption and the Social and 223 Physical Body Chapter 7 The Body Inside Out 280 Chapter 8 Embodiment and Body Regimen Careers: Exploring “Control” 341 and “Release” Chapter 9 Conclusion: Body Regimen Careers Respond to the 403 Problematic of Living Appendix A: Overview of the “Healthy Life Extension Community” 472 Appendix B: Interview Guide 473 Bibliography 477 ii Chapter 1: Body Regimens Implicated in Delaying Aging and/or Extending Life – A Brief Overview and Introduction The dream of potentially extending life and/or delaying bodily aging has been documented throughout the ages, and has been the cause of tremendous fascination and terror, cynicism and hope, struggle and submittal. Recognized as one of the most ancient known pieces of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh, includes a legend which details Sumerian King Gilgamesh’s efforts to locate a magical plant thought to restore youth. In his quest, Gilgamesh, eluded by a snake, is forced to confront the realization that aging and death are inevitable. While the moral overtones surrounding this legend may suggest that human efforts to manipulate the passage of time are futile, the dream is long lived and has been repeated, throughout the ages, in a wide variety of forms. The storyline of my own research is positioned amidst this ancient dream as I explore present day individual engagement in practices implicated in potentially delaying bodily aging and/or extending bodily life. In her research on cosmetic surgery, a practice which is oftentimes implicated in aesthetic age retardation efforts, sociologist Virginia Pitts (2007:233) calls for scholars to “think about the means of practices as much as what the practices mean” in an effort to avoid centering only on a moralistic dualism between “right” and “wrong.” In an attempt to answer this call, and to similarly position my own work, this research will focus on individual engagement with three different body regimens currently implicated in potentially delaying bodily aging and even extending 1 bodily life and this includes: caloric restriction optimal nutrition (CRON), anti-aging medicine, and rigorous nutrition and exercise regimens thought to affect bodily aging.1 In order to make sense of the innumerable human efforts to potentially delay aging and/or prolong life, philosopher Gerald Gruman (2003[1966]) wrote an insightful book which provides a framework to understand the pursuit of “prolongevity,2” from ancient times through the 18th century. Gruman’s research identifies three so-called “prolongevity legends” (antediluvian, hyperborean and fountain) to describe the history of human endeavors to potentially influence bodily aging and/or the human lifespan. Antediluvian legends are based on the idea that people of the ancient past were able to avoid death, living hundreds of years longer than typical life spans of the day (Gruman 2003 [1966]). While antediluvian legends existed in ancient Greece through descriptions of Hesiod’s “Age of Gold,” a time when mortals were said to be ageless, these legends gained special prominence during the medieval period through stories about the longevity of biblical patriarchs. According to the Book of Genesis, before the great flood, people lived significantly longer lives. Methuselah, for example, was purported to have lived until the age of 969, while Noah was said to have reached 950 years. Regimens associated with antediluvian legends are based around religious piety, obedience, and morality. 1 Recognition of the “means of practices” is important since it is increasingly clear that a diverse range of factors serve as motivation to people participating in such regimens. Similar, for example, to participation in activities associated with recycling, while some may partake due to a concern with environmental conservation, others may be more motivated by financial incentive or out of a community-instituted obligation. As my research will reveal, for example, people engaged in CRON do not always regard life extension as the overarching motivation, just as people using age management medicines may be motivated more by efforts to seek solutions for idiopathic ailments than by a desire to delay aging, per se. 2 This word was coined in 1966 by philosopher Gerald Gruman to describe the belief that by following specific regimens and methods, individuals could extend the lifespan and live until extreme old age. 2 Hyperborean legends are premised on the idea that there are places in the world, generally remote islands or mountain communities, where people live much longer and healthier lives than what is otherwise typical (Gruman 2003[1966]). Ancient Greeks spoke of the longevity of the Hyperborean people who were said to live exceptionally long lives and, according to Pliny, when satiated by life and ready to die, simply went to the sea. Herodotus wrote extensively about his travels, referring to Ethiopia as “the land of the long lived” with most inhabitants said to reach 120 years or older. Seres, (meaning “of silk”), the ancient Greek and Roman term for the northeastern part of China, is repeatedly referred to as a region of long lived peoples. Strabo, a Greek geographer writing during the early 1st century, stated that some inhabitants of Seres lived for more than 200 years, describing them as “temperate in their habits and healthy; although the country produces everything in abundance.”3 Regimens associated with hyperborean legends involve modeling the identified practices and even living among the idealized long-lived communities. Finally, fountain legends revolve around the idea that certain substances including water, food, and other miraculous healing remedies can enable people to retain youthfulness and live life indefinitely (Gruman 2003[1966]). The Indian legend of Cyavana, dating back almost 3,000 years ago, describes the ‘Pool of Youth.’ Becoming upset after realizing how much older he is than his wife, the Priest Cyavana searches for and finds the ‘Pool of Youth,’ and after bathing in it, he becomes youthful again (Parpola 2004/2005).