Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 27, 2026
08:53
Author Spotlight: Automated Lifespan Monitoring – Discovering Aging Dynamics with the Lifespan Machine
Published on: January 26, 2024
1.8K
Alive and well? Exploring disease by studying lifespan
Jamie O Brett1, Thomas A Rando2
1Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Current Opinion in Genetics & Development
|July 10, 2014
Summary
Chronological age is a key risk factor for diseases, but the link remains unclear. This review explores aging as a continuum of phenotypes and discusses lifespan as a metric for understanding aging and developing therapies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and molecular biology
- Pathogenesis of age-related diseases
Background:
- Chronological age is a primary risk factor for numerous diseases, including cancer and degenerative conditions.
- The precise mechanistic link between aging and disease development is not fully understood.
- Lifespan measurement is a common assay for biological aging in research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between normal aging and age-related diseases as a spectrum of aging phenotypes.
- To explore the hypothesis that diseases may accelerate the aging process.
- To review the utility and limitations of lifespan as a metric for cellular and tissue aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on aging phenotypes and disease pathogenesis.
- Analysis of lifespan as a surrogate marker for biological aging.
- Examination of molecular mechanisms underlying aging and age-related diseases.
Main Results:
- Aging and age-related diseases may represent a continuum of phenotypes with shared underlying mechanisms.
- The converse postulate suggests diseases could be risk factors for accelerated aging.
- Lifespan offers insights but has limitations as a sole metric for aging.
Conclusions:
- Understanding aging as a continuum can illuminate common mechanisms driving both normal aging and disease.
- Further research into molecular pathways is crucial for developing therapies for age-related diseases.
- Careful consideration of lifespan measurement's advantages and caveats is necessary in aging research.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
11.7K
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...
11.7K
01:26Longitudinal Studies
703
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
703
01:18Introduction To Survival Analysis
941
Survival analysis is a statistical method used to study time-to-event data, where the "event" might represent outcomes like death, disease relapse, system failure, or recovery. A unique feature of survival data is censoring, which occurs when the event of interest has not been observed for some individuals during the study period. This requires specialized techniques to handle incomplete data effectively.
The primary goal of survival analysis is to estimate survival time—the time...
The primary goal of survival analysis is to estimate survival time—the time...
941
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
71
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
71
01:17Introduction to Language of Pathophysiology ll
42
This lesson explores key terms that describe how diseases progress, their outcomes, and their distribution in populations.Diagnostic tests identify diseases and monitor treatment. These include blood and urine tests, biopsies, imaging (X-ray, MRI), and detection of infectious agents.Remission is a reduction or disappearance of symptoms.Exacerbation refers to the worsening of symptoms, such as increased wheezing during an asthma attack.A precipitating factor triggers an acute episode, while a...
42
01:21Causality in Epidemiology
2.1K
Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...
2.1K