Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026
06:53
Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
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Multifaceted dynamics of circadian timing system influence aging and longevity
Anita Jagota1, Zeeshan Akhtar Khan2, Sushree Abhidhatri Sharma2
1Neurobiology and Molecular Chronobiology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India. ajsl@uohyd.ac.in.
Biogerontology
|September 27, 2025
Summary
Aging disrupts the body's internal clocks, leading to health issues. This breakdown in circadian timekeeping (CTS) accelerates aging, while aging also impairs CTS function in a bidirectional relationship.
Area of Science:
- Chronobiology
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The circadian timekeeping system (CTS) synchronizes physiological, metabolic, and behavioral processes with the 24-hour day.
- Desynchrony between central and peripheral clocks is implicated in age-related diseases like metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration.
- Sex-specific factors, hormonal shifts, and redox imbalances influence circadian resilience during aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the intricate relationship between aging and circadian rhythm disruptions.
- To highlight the bidirectional nature of aging and clock dysfunction across multiple biological levels.
- To explore the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying age-related circadian alterations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on circadian mechanisms and aging.
- Analysis of molecular, cellular, and systemic changes associated with circadian disruption in aging.
- Examination of the interplay between the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), peripheral clocks, and aging.
Main Results:
- Aging is associated with diminished transcriptional rhythmicity, epigenetic drift, mitochondrial desynchronization, and neurotransmitter system disruptions.
- Weakened SCN output, impaired photic entrainment, and loss of temporal coherence across organ systems are consequences of aging-induced clock dysfunction.
- A bidirectional, push-pull mechanism links CTS dysfunction and aging, where each exacerbates the other.
Conclusions:
- Circadian rhythm disruption is a significant contributor to the aging process.
- Aging itself progressively impairs the CTS, affecting its molecular and functional integrity.
- Restoring circadian harmony may be a therapeutic target for mitigating age-related decline.
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