Understanding Aging: Health, Mechanisms, and Evolution

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This chapter explores the intricate nature of aging, discussing its connection to diseases and the potential for genetic insights from centenarians. It highlights the biological and evolutionary mechanisms behind aging, including cell senescence and the role of stem cells, while posing critical questions about the implications of an aging global population. The discussion includes concepts like mutation accumulation and antagonistic pleiotropy, emphasizing the balance between reproduction and self-repair in the life cycle.

Humans have always been obsessed with getting old, or rather staying young, but now science is beginning to catch up. Longevity has become a hot topic, from university laboratories to Silicon Valley startups. In the first of a Science Weekly three-part miniseries on ageing, Ian Sample speaks to Richard Faragher, a professor of biogerontology at the University of Brighton, to discover what we know about the biological hallmarks of ageing in our bodies –and why we have evolved to have the lifespans we do. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod