Glossary of Key Terms

 Glossary of Key Terms 

Aging: the process of getting older and experiencing physiological and functional decline.

Anti-aging: interventions that aim to slow or reverse the aging process and delay the onset of age-related diseases.

Apoptosis: programmed cell death that occurs in response to specific signals or events, which is important for maintaining tissue homeostasis and removing damaged cells.

Autophagy: a cellular process by which damaged or unnecessary components are broken down and recycled, which has been linked to longevity and healthspan.

Bioavailability: the degree to which a substance is absorbed and able to enter circulation in the body, which can affect its efficacy and safety.

Caloric restriction: a dietary intervention that reduces calorie intake while maintaining adequate nutrition, shown to increase lifespan in many organisms.

Caloric restriction mimetics: compounds or interventions that mimic the effects of caloric restriction on metabolism and lifespan, which have been explored as potential anti-aging interventions.

Cellular senescence: the process by which cells stop dividing and undergo changes that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

CRISPR: a gene-editing tool that allows for precise modification of DNA sequences.

CRISPR-Cas9: a gene editing technology that allows precise modification of DNA sequences, which has potential applications for treating genetic diseases and extending lifespan.

DNA repair: the process by which DNA damage is detected and repaired, which is important for maintaining genomic stability and preventing age-related diseases.

Epigenetics: the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.

Epigenetic clock: a method of estimating biological age based on epigenetic changes in the genome.

Epigenetic inheritance: the transmission of epigenetic modifications from one generation to the next, which can influence gene expression and phenotype.

Epigenetic modifications: changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the underlying DNA sequence, but rather by alterations in the way that DNA is packaged and regulated.

Epigenetic clock: a measure of biological age based on epigenetic modifications that accumulate over time, which can be used to predict lifespan and disease risk.

Epigenetic therapy: a medical intervention that targets epigenetic modifications to treat diseases or improve cellular function, which has been explored for its potential to extend lifespan.

Epigenome: the complete set of epigenetic modifications in an organism, which can change over time and in response to environmental factors.

Fasting: a dietary intervention that involves abstaining from food for a period of time, which has been shown to have health benefits and extend lifespan in some organisms.

Genetic engineering: the modification of an organism's genetic material to achieve desirable traits or outcomes.

Genomics: the study of the complete set of genes in an organism, which can provide insight into genetic variations and disease mechanisms.

Gerontology: the scientific study of aging and its related processes.

Geroprotector: a substance or intervention that has been shown to delay or prevent age-related diseases and extend lifespan in animal models.

Glycation: the process by which sugars react with proteins, causing damage and contributing to aging and age-related diseases.

Gut microbiome: the collection of microorganisms that inhabit the gut, which play a role in digestion, metabolism, and immune function, and have been linked to aging and disease.

Hormesis: the concept that exposure to low levels of stress or toxins can activate beneficial physiological responses that improve health and extend lifespan.

Hormesis zone: the range of exposure to stress or toxins that is beneficial for health and longevity, beyond which negative effects predominate.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): a medical treatment that involves replacing hormones that are deficient or declining in the body, which can alleviate symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of certain age-related diseases.

Hormone signaling: the communication between cells and tissues that is mediated by hormones, which plays a role in metabolism, growth, and aging.

Hormones: chemical messengers produced by the endocrine system that regulate a wide range of physiological processes, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction.

Immune senescence: the decline in immune function with age, which can increase susceptibility to infections and cancer.

Inflammaging: chronic low-grade inflammation that increases with age and contributes to aging and age-related diseases.

Inflammation: a physiological response to injury or infection that can become chronic and contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

Longevity: the length of time that a person lives.

Longevity escape velocity: the hypothetical point at which lifespan extension interventions are able to outpace the rate of aging, resulting in indefinite lifespan extension.

Longevity genes: genes that have been linked to extended lifespan or improved healthspan in animal models or human populations.

Metabolism: the set of chemical reactions that occur within cells to convert nutrients into energy and building blocks for cellular structures.

Methylation: the addition of a methyl group to a molecule, which can alter gene expression and play a role in aging.

Microbiome: the collection of microorganisms that inhabit the human body, which play a key role in digestion, immune function, and other physiological processes.

Mitochondria: organelles within cells that produce energy, but also generate damaging reactive oxygen species that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

Mitophagy: a cellular process by which damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria are selectively degraded and recycled, which is important for cellular health and longevity.

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide): a molecule that is involved in cellular metabolism and energy production, and has been linked to aging and age-related diseases.

Neoteny: the retention of juvenile traits into adulthood, which has been linked to longer lifespan and improved health in some organisms.

Nutraceutical: a food or food component that has potential health benefits beyond basic nutritional value, which has been explored for its potential to improve aging and longevity.

Oxidative stress: a state of imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses, which can contribute to cellular damage and aging.

Progeria: a rare genetic disorder that causes rapid aging in children, leading to early death.

Polyphenols: a class of antioxidants found in plant-based foods that have been shown to have anti-aging effects in animal studies.

Proteasome: a cellular complex that degrades and recycles unwanted or damaged proteins, which is important for proteostasis and cellular function.

Proteomics: the study of the complete set of proteins produced by an organism, which can reveal information about cellular processes and disease mechanisms.

Proteostasis: the maintenance of protein homeostasis in cells, which is important for preventing cellular damage and dysfunction.

Rapamycin: a drug that has been shown to extend lifespan in multiple species, including mice.

Replicative senescence: the point at which cells stop dividing due to telomere shortening, which contributes to aging and age-related diseases.

Resveratrol: a compound found in red wine and grapes that has been shown to have anti-aging effects in animal studies.

Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP): the release of inflammatory molecules by senescent cells that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

Senolytics: drugs or compounds that target and eliminate senescent cells, which contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

Single-cell sequencing: a technique for analyzing the genetic information of individual cells, which can provide insights into cellular diversity and function.

Sirtuins: a family of proteins that regulate cellular metabolism and have been linked to lifespan extension in some organisms. 

Stem cells: cells that can differentiate into multiple cell types and have the potential to regenerate damaged tissues and organs.

Stem cell niche: the microenvironment that surrounds and supports stem cells, which is important for maintaining their function and regenerative capacity.

Systems biology: an interdisciplinary approach to studying complex biological systems, which involves the integration of data from multiple sources and the use of computational models.

Telomerase: an enzyme that can add length to telomeres and has been shown to extend lifespan in some organisms

Telomere attrition: the gradual shortening of telomeres over time, which is a hallmark of aging and contributes to cellular senescence and disease.

Telomeres: protective structures at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division and are associated with aging and disease.

Transcriptomics: the study of the complete set of RNA molecules produced by an organism, which can reveal information about gene expression and cellular processes.

Transhumanism: a movement that seeks to use technology and science to enhance human abilities, including lifespan extension.

Transposable elements: DNA sequences that can move or copy themselves within the genome, which can affect gene expression and cellular function, and have been linked to aging and disease.