Open AccessHealthy Aging: Is Smaller Better? – A Mini-Review
Author(s) -
Andrzej Bartke
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
gerontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.397
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1423-0003
pISSN - 0304-324X
DOI - 10.1159/000335166
Subject(s) - longevity , dwarfism , biology , disease , diabetes mellitus , human growth hormone , growth hormone , growth hormone receptor , hormone , endocrinology , physiology , medicine , genetics , gene
A recent report of virtually complete protection from diabetes and cancer in a population of people with hereditary dwarfism revived interest in elucidating the relationships between growth, adult body size, age-related disease and longevity. In many species, smaller individuals outlive those that are larger and a similar relationship was shown in studies of various human populations. Adult body size is strongly dependent on the actions of growth hormone (GH) and the absence of GH or GH receptor in mice leads to a remarkable extension of longevity. Many mechanisms that may account for, or contribute to, this association have been identified. It is suggested that modest modifications of the diet at different ages may extend human healthspan and lifespan by reducing levels of hormones that stimulate growth.