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Inflammation01:38

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Overview
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Aging01:26

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Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
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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...
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Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
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The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
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Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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Measuring Single-Cell Aging with an Imaging-based Biomarker of Chromatin and Epigenetic Aging
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Aging, inflammation and the environment.

Arsun Bektas1, Shepherd H Schurman2, Ranjan Sen3

  • 1Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Experimental Gerontology
|December 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Aging involves complex mechanisms leading to functional decline and increased disease risk. Chronic inflammation and environmental factors significantly impact these processes, highlighting the need for life course research to understand aging mechanisms.

Keywords:
AgingEnvironmentInflammagingInflammationLongitudinal studies

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Environmental Health

Background:

  • Aging is characterized by interrelated mechanisms causing phenotypes like altered body composition, energy imbalance, and neurodegeneration.
  • Aging results from an imbalance between stressors and stress buffering, leading to damage accumulation, reduced reserves, and increased disease susceptibility.
  • A chronic low-grade proinflammatory state (inflammaging) is a hallmark of aging and a risk factor for multimorbidity, disability, and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore aging processes and mechanisms affecting human biology.
  • To investigate the links between inflammation, environmental factors, and aging, particularly concerning metabolism.
  • To emphasize the need for longitudinal, life course studies to understand functional decline in aging.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing theories and longitudinal study findings on aging mechanisms.
  • Exploration of the role of inflammation and environmental factors in aging.
  • Focus on metabolic pathways and their connection to aging phenotypes.

Main Results:

  • Aging phenotypes arise from an imbalance in stress response and compensatory mechanisms, leading to cumulative damage.
  • A chronic proinflammatory state is strongly associated with negative health outcomes in aging individuals.
  • Environmental factors can modulate the proinflammatory state associated with aging.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms is crucial for preserving physical and cognitive function in aging.
  • Inflammaging and environmental exposures are key factors in age-related functional decline and healthspan.
  • Longitudinal studies using a life course approach are essential for elucidating the mechanisms of aging and developing interventions.