Aging: a root cause of chronic illness and future target of innovation

Abstract

The aging process is the leading cause of persistent health challenges and should be a key focus for enhancing longevity and well-being. This review explores the science of aging, distinguishing between a person's chronological age in years and their biological age based on bodily health. It also presents two main ideas: the Seven Pillars and the Hallmarks of Aging. It looks at how different problems in the body, like DNA damage, inflammation, metabolism issues, and tired stem cells, are connected. The discussion also includes various therapies such as metformin, rapamycin, aspirin, methylene blue, and NAD boosters that seek to enhance health by influencing pathways like mTOR and AMPK. These help lower stress in cells, improve energy production in mitochondria, and encourage the cleanup of damaged cells. Different ways to measure biological age, like the Klemera-Doubal Method, blood tests, physical signs, and epigenetic clocks, are looked at. GrimAge is found to be the best predictor of how long someone will live and their health. There are challenges like differences in DNA methylation, and there are computer methods to make things more accurate. The integration of tests identifying specific bodily markers with personalized treatments offers a promising approach to postponing disease onset and promoting longer, healthier lives.