THE 5 MOST IMPORTANT THEORIES OF AGING - SCIENCE - 2025

The theories of aging are different attempts to explain why living things are deteriorating with the passage of time. Due to the complexity of the subject, there are many different theories on the subject, which depending on the approach may be more focused on genetics, biology, metabolism…

Barring premature death, the vast majority of us will experience the aging process firsthand. So researchers try to understand exactly how it works and what the causes are; In this way, the most serious effects of this stage of biological development can be alleviated in the future.

Some scientists even believe that if we can explain the causes of aging, we will be able to prevent it. If this point is reached, we could stop death from natural causes, which has given rise to much controversy in the research world.

In any case, there is no doubt that being able to understand why aging occurs and how we can lessen its most serious consequences will be a key to avoiding a great deal of suffering in the future.

Main streams of aging theories

Despite the fact that most researchers agree that aging is a multicausal process (that is, it cannot be attributed to a single factor), there are several streams within their study.

Despite the large number of possible explanations that we can find for this phenomenon, most are divided into two camps: those that consider that aging is caused by an accumulation of failures and errors in our body, and those that believe that aging it is a scheduled event.

The most important explanations at this time within the two streams are genetic theory, biological theory, metabolic theory, neuroendocrine theory, and social theories.

Genetic theory of aging

According to this theory, our DNA is responsible for setting a maximum limit of longevity that we can achieve under ideal conditions. If it were true, it would mean that we have the oldest age we can reach written in our genes.

The key piece to understanding how our genes affect our longevity are telomeres. This part of the genes is found at the ends of each one of them, and it is shortened with each cell division.

Once they have become too short, the cell cannot continue dividing, and dies. Therefore, various researchers are trying to find ways to artificially lengthen telomeres, mainly using gene therapies.

However, despite the fact that telomeres have indeed been shown to play a very important role in aging, it is also known that they are not the only factor to take into account.

Biological theory of aging

The biological theory of aging is based on the idea that this process must have some inherent advantage for living things, since otherwise it would have been eliminated by the evolution of species. However, being present in all living things on the planet, there must be some explanation for it.

Peter Medawar, a British Nobel Prize winner, proposed the theory that aging should begin, at the earliest, after the age when an organism is able to reproduce for the first time.

After this age, it would not make sense for an organism to spend resources to survive for longer than it could due to external causes.

For example, Medawar said that a mouse survives only two years on average because, in the natural world, practically none of these animals would live longer due to pressure from predators, accidents or lack of food.

Although this theory is quite controversial today in the world of science, many of its points have been confirmed.

Metabolic theory of aging

Another of the aging theories that have become very popular in recent times is the one that considers that the metabolism of organisms plays a very important role in this process.

According to this view, the differences in the rate of aging would have to do with the efficiency of an individual organism in converting nutrients into metabolic energy, and therefore in maintaining homeostasis for its cells.

This theory is one of the most scientific evidence accumulating right now, although its proponents do not deny that other factors such as genetics can also influence the aging of living beings.

Neuroendocrine theory of aging

This theory of aging proposes the idea that, due to damage to the hypothalamus and a lower sensitivity to hormones, living beings end up suffering an imbalance in their body that causes premature aging.

Hormones are one of the most important components of the body's functioning, having effects on practically all the internal processes of living beings. Misadjusted levels of these substances can cause all kinds of problems, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's…

Several studies show that longevity increases when the neuroendocrine system works properly. This evidence suggests that hormones can indeed play a very important role in the aging process.

Due to these studies, certain sectors of the medical and scientific community believe that the use of artificial hormones from a certain age is advisable to prevent most of the problems associated with age. For example, in recent years "Testosterone Replacement Therapy," or TRT, has become very fashionable.

Social theories of aging

Social theories of aging focus on the impact that certain elements of the life of the elderly person (such as the roles they play, their relationships with other people, and their status) have on their physical and cognitive decline.

Although there are several theories of this type, the best known is probably the Activity Theory, developed by Havighurst in 1953. According to this, the participation of the elderly person with the rest of society is a fundamental factor for their well-being, both psychological and physical.

Therefore, the researchers who agree with this theory propose to encourage the activity of the elderly: help them to find hobbies, to generate social relationships with other people of the same age, to stay physically active…

The idea is that by remaining active members of society, their longevity will increase, as well as the quality of life that they will be able to enjoy during their later years.

References

1. "Neuroendocrine Theory of Aging" in: Live Long Stay Young. Retrieved on: January 17, 2018 from Live Long Stay Young: livelongstayyoung.com.
2. "The Methabolic Stability Theory of Aging" in: Fight Aging. Retrieved on: January 17, 2018 from Fight Aging: fightaging.org.
3. "What is the genetic theory of aging?" at: Very Well. Retrieved on: January 17, 2018 from Very Well: verywell.com.
4. "Biological Aging Theories" in: Programmed Aging. Retrieved on: January 17, 2018 from Programmed Aging: programmed-aging.org.
5. "Theories of aging" in: Physiopedia. Retrieved on: January 17, 2018 from Physiopedia: phisio-pedia.com.