Open AccessThe non‐existent aging program: how does it work?
Author(s) -
Bredesen Dale E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
aging cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1474-9726
pISSN - 1474-9718
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-9728.2004.00121.x
Subject(s) - longevity , biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , process (computing) , disease , gerontology , computer science , artificial intelligence , genetics , pathology , medicine , operating system
Summary Aging and lifespan determination have been viewed, in the most well‐accepted theories, as nonprogrammatic, and are thought to result from the evolutionary selection for early fitness at the expense of late survival. Here, recent data implicating potentially programmatic aspects of aging and lifespan determination are discussed, and analogies between programmed cell death and programmed organismal death are offered. It is hoped that the recognition of at least the possibility of a programmatic aspect, or aspects, to the determination of longevity and the process of aging will help to optimize our chances to identify appropriate therapeutic targets both for longevity enhancement and disease prevention.