What is Aging?

Aging is defined as an age-related decrease in viability and function, leading to increased vulnerability to disease. The process is complex and poorly understood, though several hypotheses exist, including DNA damage, oxidative stress from free radicals, and telomere shortening.

Human mortality exponentially increases after age 30. However, longevity is plastic; certain animals like birds and naked mole rats exhibit extended lifespans or cancer resistance due to their environments and evolutionary pressures.

Scientists have discovered that aging can be influenced by manipulating genes, such as the growth hormone receptor. Additionally, caloric restriction has been shown to extend lifespan and improve health, serving as a basis for developing drug therapies that mimic these effects without strict dieting.

Slowing the aging process by just seven years could halve the incidence of age-related diseases. By using bioinformatics and genetic research, scientists aim to prove that aging is not an immutable law of nature but a biological process that can be managed.