[SHOULD MEDICINE TREAT AGING AS A DISEASE?]

Aging is a biological process that occurs in every living organism and affects all bodily systems. Many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system, are perceived as an integral part of the aging process and are even referred to as "aging-related diseases." These diseases develop over long periods of time and are typically treated only after they have already manifested or been diagnosed, primarily with medications, and they cannot be completely cured. In recent decades, a growing perspective views the mechanisms of aging themselves as a pathological process that facilitates the development of diseases. Consequently, intervening in these mechanisms may, if not prevent, at least significantly delay their progression. This raises the question: 'Should medicine regard the aging process itself as a disease and even define aging as a disease?' The answer to this question is complex, particularly given the necessity of a clearly defined and agreed-upon medical indication for any medical treatment. This article explores this issue by reviewing well-known biological mechanisms of aging, the relationship between aging and chronic diseases, the existing potential to treat aging directly, and the challenges associated with considering aging as a disease.