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Evolution of ageing.

Thomas B L Kirkwood1

  • 1Department of Gerontology, Institute for Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle General Hospital, NE4 6BE, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. tom.kirkwood@ncl.ac.uk

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|March 1, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Evolutionary theory explains ageing as a consequence of declining natural selection and trade-offs between maintenance and reproduction, not programmed death. Understanding genetic and environmental factors is key to human longevity.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Ageing (senescence) remains a significant enigma in nature.
  • Evolutionary theory posits organisms are programmed for survival, not death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the evolutionary basis of ageing.
  • To provide insights into the mechanisms and predictions of senescence.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of evolutionary principles: declining natural selection with age.
  • Examination of trade-offs between somatic maintenance, repair, growth, and reproduction.

Main Results:

  • Ageing arises from reduced natural selection and resource allocation trade-offs.
  • Evolutionary theory offers insights into senescence mechanisms and generates testable predictions.

Conclusions:

  • Future research should investigate genetic factors influencing ageing in heterogeneous environments.
  • Understanding socio-economic influences on selection forces is crucial for human longevity research.

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