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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
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Published on: February 16, 2015

Apoptosis: a two-edged sword in aging

H R Warner1

  • 1Biology of Aging Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. warnerh@exmur.nia.nih.gov

Anticancer Research
|February 1, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis, programmed cell death, influences aging and related diseases. Understanding its dual roles is key for developing therapies targeting aging and neurodegenerative conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Gerontology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is increasingly recognized for its significant involvement in physiological processes.
  • Its roles in aging and age-related diseases are complex, exhibiting both beneficial and detrimental effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of apoptosis in the aging process.
  • To highlight the critical involvement of apoptosis in cancer incidence and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • To underscore the therapeutic potential of regulating apoptosis in aging and related pathologies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on apoptosis.
  • Analysis of apoptosis's dual roles in aging.
  • Examination of apoptosis's impact on cancer and neurodegeneration.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis plays a dual role in aging, with both protective and detrimental functions.
  • Apoptosis is crucial in limiting cancer development.
  • Dysregulation of apoptosis contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders.

Conclusions:

  • The regulation of apoptosis presents a promising therapeutic target.
  • Interventions aimed at modulating apoptosis could offer new strategies for treating age-related diseases.
  • Further research into apoptosis mechanisms is warranted for clinical applications in aging.

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