Biological aspects of ageing

Ageing causation is discussed in terms of the deleterious effects that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), and deleterious metabolites and by-products exert on cellular components to induce formation of altered proteins and DNA damage to increase cellular and organism vulnerability. The roles of the major cellular energy pathways, glycolysis and mitochondrial activity, as likely controlling agents of age-related accumulation of altered proteins are outlined. The possible influence of dietary manipulation on ageing and related pathologies which either decrease generation of the deleterious agents, or stimulate those homeostatic activities that remove or repair damaged proteins and DNA, thereby suppressing accumulation or altered proteins, is also discussed.