Getting to the Root of Aging

摘要

As people live longer, the question arises of how malleable aging is and whether it can be slowed or postponed. The classic evolutionary theories of aging (1-4) provide the theoretical framework that has guided aging research for 60 years. Are the theories consistent with recent evidence? At the heart of the theories lies the observation that the old count less than the young: Unfavorable traits are weeded out by evolution more slowly at higher ages (2); traits that are beneficial early in life are selected for despite late life costs (5); and resources are used to enhance reproduction at younger ages instead of maintaining the body at ages that do not matter much for evolution (1).