What Is Longevity Science?
Longevity research studies the biological mechanisms of aging — telomere shortening, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic changes. Key pathways like mTOR, AMPK, and Sirtuins act as master regulators. Interventions such as caloric restriction, senolytics, and NAD+ boosters show promise in extending healthy lifespan.
Why does this matter? Aging is the single greatest risk factor for chronic disease. Understanding the molecular pathways that drive aging opens the door to interventions that could add decades of healthy life. From rapamycin to epigenetic reprogramming, the science of longevity is rapidly moving from lab to clinic.
📖 Deep Dive
Analogy 1
Think of aging like a car wearing out over time. Telomeres are like tire treads that get thinner with every mile, mTOR is the engine running too fast and causing wear, and AMPK is the mechanic that triggers self-repair when fuel runs low. Caloric restriction is like driving gently to extend the car's life.
Analogy 2
Imagine your body as a city. Senescent cells are abandoned buildings that attract vandals (inflammation). Senolytics are the demolition crew that clears them out. NAD+ is the city's power grid — it dims with age but can be restored. Sirtuins are the maintenance workers who keep everything running smoothly when resources are managed wisely.
🎯 Simulator Tips
Beginner
Start by pressing Start and watch your cells age in real time. Try adjusting Caloric Restriction to 20-30% and notice how mTOR decreases while AMPK increases. Toggle Rapamycin to see the most powerful single-drug longevity intervention.
Intermediate
Enable Metformin, NAD+ Supplement, and Senolytic drugs to build a multi-target intervention stack. Watch how NAD+ restoration activates Sirtuins, which suppress inflammation. Use the Age 10 Years button to fast-forward and see long-term effects.
Expert
Experiment with Telomerase Activation and Epigenetic Reprogramming to push biological age below chronological age. Combine Parabiosis with other interventions. Notice how the pathway network dynamically rebalances — reducing mTOR while boosting AMPK and Autophagy is the key to extending projected lifespan toward 100+.
📚 Glossary
🏆 Key Figures
David Sinclair (2013)
Harvard professor researching NAD+ and sirtuins in aging, popularized the 'Information Theory of Aging' in his book 'Lifespan'
Cynthia Kenyon (1993)
Discovered that single gene mutations (daf-2) can double C. elegans lifespan, revolutionizing our understanding of aging genetics
Shinya Yamanaka (2006)
Nobel laureate who discovered cellular reprogramming factors (iPSC) now being applied to partial reprogramming for aging reversal
Steve Horvath (2013)
UCLA researcher who developed the epigenetic clock — the most accurate biomarker for measuring biological age from DNA methylation patterns
Judith Campisi (2005)
Buck Institute researcher who characterized cellular senescence and the SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype) as key drivers of aging
🎓 Learning Resources
- The Hallmarks of Aging [paper]
Foundational paper defining nine hallmarks of aging (Cell, 2013), updated in 2023 to twelve hallmarks — the most-cited framework in aging biology - Senolytics improve physical function and increase lifespan in old age [paper]
Landmark demonstration that eliminating senescent cells with dasatinib + quercetin extends healthspan and lifespan in aged mice (Nature Medicine, 2018) - Reprogramming to recover youthful epigenetic information and restore vision [paper]
David Sinclair's lab showed partial epigenetic reprogramming using Yamanaka factors can reverse age-related vision loss in mice (Nature, 2020) - Caloric restriction improves health and survival of rhesus monkeys [paper]
NIA study confirming that caloric restriction without malnutrition improves healthspan and delays age-related disease in primates (Nature Communications, 2017) - National Institute on Aging [article]
NIH institute dedicated to aging research, with comprehensive educational resources and clinical trial listings - SENS Research Foundation [article]
Organization funding research to prevent and reverse age-related damage through seven categories of repair strategies - Longevity.Technology [article]
News and analysis covering the latest longevity biotech developments, clinical trials, and industry trends - GeroScience journal [article]
Peer-reviewed journal at the intersection of basic aging biology and age-related diseases, publishing interventional studies