Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The aging process

D Harman

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    |November 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Free radical reactions, primarily involving oxygen, are a major contributor to aging. Minimizing this damage through diet may extend healthy lifespan by 5-10 years.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Operational Definition of Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA): A Conceptual Framework.

    The journal of nutrition, health & aging·2015
    Same author

    Antioxidant supplements: Effects on disease and aging in the United States population.

    Journal of the American Aging Association·2013
    Same author

    Alzheimer's disease: A hypothesis on pathogenesis.

    Journal of the American Aging Association·2013
    Same author

    Myctolaimellus robiniae n. sp. (Diplogasterida: Cylindrocorporidae) from Larval Cavities of the Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae Forster.

    Journal of nematology·2009
    Same author

    Aging: overview.

    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2002
    Same author

    Development of muscarinic analgesics derived from epibatidine: role of the M4 receptor subtype.

    The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics·1999
    Same journal

    The TaMYB55-TaSnRK1α1-TabZIP9 module confers heat stress tolerance in wheat.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    Same journal

    Superstatistics approach to turbulent circulation fluctuations.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    Same journal

    A molecular timescale for evolution of cobamide biosynthesis.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    Same journal

    Pierre Chambon, a pioneer of molecular biology and gene regulation in eukaryotes.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    Same journal

    Granulosa cell glycogen fuels the avascular corpus luteum.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    Same journal

    Synthetic essentiality of TRAIL/TNFSF10 in VHL-deficient renal cell carcinoma.

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology

    Background:

    • Aging is characterized by accumulating cellular and tissue changes, increasing susceptibility to disease and mortality.
    • The precise mechanisms driving the aging process have been extensively debated.
    • Emerging evidence implicates deleterious free radical reactions as a central factor in aging.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of free radical reactions in the aging process.
    • To explore the impact of dietary interventions on mitigating age-related damage.
    • To determine if reducing free radical damage can extend lifespan and improve healthspan.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing literature on free radical reactions and aging.
    • Analysis of studies involving dietary manipulations in various organisms.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of data correlating metabolic rate, lifespan, and disease incidence.

    • Main Results:

    • Free radical reactions, particularly those involving oxygen, are identified as a major contributor to aging.
    • Dietary interventions designed to lower free radical damage have shown positive effects across multiple species, including increased lifespan.
    • These interventions also demonstrated inhibition of cancer development, enhanced immune responses, and slowed progression of age-related diseases like amyloidosis and autoimmune disorders.
    • Free radical damage is linked to the decline of cardiovascular and central nervous systems with age.
    • The free radical theory explains phenomena such as species-specific lifespans, disease clustering, benefits of caloric restriction, and increased autoimmune issues with age.

    Conclusions:

    • Free radical reactions are a significant driver of aging and age-related diseases.
    • Dietary strategies aimed at minimizing free radical damage hold promise for extending healthy human lifespan.
    • Maintaining a healthy weight and consuming nutrient-adequate diets that limit free radical reactions could add 5-10 years to a healthy life.