[Role of the environmental factors on aging]

Aging is a process of irreversible decline in physiological function over the time. Several postulated mechanisms for aging include cumulative DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, telomere loss, altered gene expression, and oxidative damages. Those factors affecting the aging process were implicated in hypertension, diabetes, lipid metabolic disorder, heart failure, smoking and psychological stress and so on. Subjects with those disorders are manifested the increased insulin resistance and oxidative stress which are more likely to accelerate aging, atherosclerosis and premature death. Both are also associated with accelerated telomere attrition in leucocytes and chronicle the cumulative burden of oxidative stress and inflammation over a life course. Here, recent evidences including our data about the relationship between telomere attrition and age-related disorders are introduced. Finally, we identify improving life-style as well as pharmacological interventions as potent anti-aging effects to be important for keeping of healthy long life.