Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
12:23
Measuring Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span in 96 Well Microtiter Plates
Published on: March 18, 2011
Prospects for life span extension.
Felipe Sierra1, Evan Hadley, Richard Suzman
1National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Annual Review of Medicine
|September 27, 2008
Summary
Scientists are exploring ways to further extend human life expectancy. Research focuses on modifiable risk factors and the basic biology of aging to unlock new longevity strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Public Health
Background:
- Global life expectancy has significantly increased.
- The complex factors driving this increase are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if current knowledge of modifiable risk factors can further extend life expectancy.
- To explore the potential of aging biology research for future longevity gains.
Main Methods:
- Review of current research on life expectancy determinants.
- Analysis of modifiable risk factors and aging biology studies.
Main Results:
- The underlying factors of increased life expectancy remain complex and incompletely understood.
- Further extension of life expectancy is being investigated through two primary avenues.
Conclusions:
- Future gains in life expectancy may be achieved by addressing modifiable risk factors.
- Understanding the basic biology of aging, including genetic and environmental influences, offers a pathway for significant longevity advancements.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Life Histories
Overview
02:20Longitudinal Research
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
01:37Mitochondria
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
02:15Replicative Cell Senescence
Replicative cell senescence is a property of cells that allows them to divide a finite number of times throughout the organism's lifespan while preventing excessive proliferation. Replicative senescence is associated with the gradual loss of the telomere — short, repetitive DNA sequences found at the end of the chromosomes. Telomeres are bound by a group of proteins to form a protective cap on the ends of chromosomes. Embryonic stem cells express telomerase — an enzyme that adds the telomeric...
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...