Biology of Aging

  1. Theories of Aging
    1. Programmed Theories
      1. Programmed Longevity
        1. Genetic regulation of aging
          1. Evidence and criticisms
            1. Programmed cell death
              1. Developmental timing
              2. Endocrine Theory
                1. Hormonal regulation of aging
                  1. Key hormones involved
                    1. Growth hormone
                      1. Insulin-like growth factor
                        1. Thyroid hormones
                          1. Sex hormones
                          2. Neuroendocrine aging
                          3. Immunological Theory
                            1. Immune system decline
                              1. Autoimmunity and aging
                                1. Thymic involution
                                  1. Inflammaging
                                2. Damage or Error Theories
                                  1. Wear and Tear Theory
                                    1. Accumulation of damage
                                      1. Tissue and organ decline
                                        1. Mechanical stress
                                          1. Environmental factors
                                          2. Rate of Living Theory
                                            1. Metabolic rate and lifespan
                                              1. Cross-species comparisons
                                                1. Oxygen consumption
                                                  1. Temperature effects
                                                  2. Cross-Linking Theory
                                                    1. Protein cross-linking
                                                      1. Effects on tissue function
                                                        1. Collagen modifications
                                                          1. Advanced glycation end products
                                                          2. Free Radical Theory (Oxidative Stress)
                                                            1. Reactive oxygen species (ROS)
                                                              1. Antioxidant defenses
                                                                1. Evidence for and against
                                                                  1. Mitochondrial ROS production
                                                                    1. Oxidative damage accumulation
                                                                    2. Somatic Mutation Theory
                                                                      1. DNA mutations
                                                                        1. Impact on cellular function
                                                                          1. Mutation accumulation rates
                                                                            1. Clonal expansion
                                                                          2. Evolutionary Theories of Aging
                                                                            1. Mutation Accumulation
                                                                              1. Late-acting deleterious mutations
                                                                                1. Evolutionary trade-offs
                                                                                  1. Selection shadow
                                                                                    1. Genetic load
                                                                                    2. Antagonistic Pleiotropy
                                                                                      1. Genes with dual effects
                                                                                        1. Examples in model organisms
                                                                                          1. p53 tumor suppressor
                                                                                            1. Reproductive vs somatic maintenance
                                                                                            2. Disposable Soma Theory
                                                                                              1. Resource allocation
                                                                                                1. Maintenance vs reproduction
                                                                                                  1. Energy investment strategies
                                                                                                    1. Life history trade-offs

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                                                                                                1. Introduction to Biogerontology

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                                                                                                3. The Hallmarks of Aging: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms