[Aging and autophagy]

Autophagy, a major intracellular degradation system which is conserved from yeast to mammals, is essential for the cellular clearance and the maintenance of homeostasis inside the cell. The autophagic activity is reported to decrease in almost all cells and tissues following aging, and genetic inhibition of autophagy in mice leads to degenerative changes and diseases that are highly associated with aging. On the other hand, various intervention strategies that delay senescence or increase life span in model organisms often stimulate autophagy, and autophagy inhibition compromises these anti-aging effects. Here, we review recent evidences in support of tight connections between autophagy and aging.