Biology of Aging

The biology of aging, or biogerontology, is the scientific field dedicated to understanding the fundamental mechanisms that drive the progressive, time-dependent decline in physiological function over an organism's lifespan. This discipline investigates a complex array of changes at the molecular and cellular levels, such as genomic instability, telomere attrition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence. These underlying processes collectively impair the ability of tissues and organs to maintain homeostasis and respond to stress, which in turn increases an organism's susceptibility to major age-related diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegeneration, making it a critical field for improving human healthspan and longevity.

  1. Introduction to Biogerontology
    1. Defining Key Concepts
      1. Aging
        1. Biological definition
          1. Distinction from development and maturation
            1. Primary aging vs secondary aging
              1. Senescence
                1. Cellular senescence
                  1. Organismal senescence
                2. Lifespan
                  1. Maximum lifespan
                    1. Average lifespan
                      1. Median lifespan
                        1. Species-specific variations
                        2. Healthspan
                          1. Definition and measurement
                            1. Factors influencing healthspan
                              1. Relationship to lifespan
                                1. Quality-adjusted life years
                                2. Longevity
                                  1. Determinants of longevity
                                    1. Longevity records in humans and animals
                                      1. Exceptional longevity populations
                                        1. Centenarians and supercentenarians
                                        2. Gerontology
                                          1. Scope and focus
                                            1. Multidisciplinary nature
                                            2. Biogerontology
                                              1. Distinction from general gerontology
                                                1. Interdisciplinary nature
                                                  1. Research methodologies
                                                2. Historical Perspectives on Aging Research
                                                  1. Early theories and observations
                                                    1. Ancient philosophical views
                                                      1. Early scientific observations
                                                      2. Milestones in aging research
                                                        1. Discovery of cellular senescence
                                                          1. Development of model organisms
                                                            1. Molecular biology revolution
                                                            2. Key figures in biogerontology
                                                              1. Leonard Hayflick
                                                                1. Denham Harman
                                                                  1. Cynthia Kenyon
                                                                    1. Other pioneering researchers
                                                                    2. Shifts in research paradigms
                                                                      1. From descriptive to mechanistic
                                                                        1. Single-factor to systems approaches
                                                                          1. Therapeutic focus emergence
                                                                        2. Model Organisms in Aging Studies
                                                                          1. Criteria for model selection
                                                                            1. Short lifespan
                                                                              1. Genetic tractability
                                                                                1. Physiological relevance
                                                                                  1. Cost and maintenance
                                                                                  2. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
                                                                                    1. Advantages and limitations
                                                                                      1. Key discoveries
                                                                                        1. Replicative vs chronological aging
                                                                                          1. Genetic screens and pathways
                                                                                          2. Nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans)
                                                                                            1. Lifespan studies
                                                                                              1. Genetic manipulation
                                                                                                1. Dauer formation
                                                                                                  1. Insulin signaling discoveries
                                                                                                  2. Fruit Flies (Drosophila melanogaster)
                                                                                                    1. Genetic tools
                                                                                                      1. Aging phenotypes
                                                                                                        1. Circadian rhythm studies
                                                                                                          1. Stress resistance
                                                                                                          2. Killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri)
                                                                                                            1. Short lifespan
                                                                                                              1. Relevance to vertebrate aging
                                                                                                                1. Genetic diversity
                                                                                                                  1. Environmental adaptations
                                                                                                                  2. Mice (Mus musculus)
                                                                                                                    1. Inbred strains
                                                                                                                      1. Transgenic and knockout models
                                                                                                                        1. Caloric restriction studies
                                                                                                                          1. Pharmacological interventions
                                                                                                                          2. Non-human Primates
                                                                                                                            1. Similarities to human aging
                                                                                                                              1. Ethical considerations
                                                                                                                                1. Rhesus macaque studies
                                                                                                                                  1. Caloric restriction trials
                                                                                                                                  2. Comparative studies across species
                                                                                                                                    1. Phylogenetic approaches
                                                                                                                                      1. Scaling relationships
                                                                                                                                        1. Evolutionary perspectives

                                                                                                                                    Go to top

                                                                                                                                    Next

                                                                                                                                    2. Theories of Aging