Cell Metabolism

Aging and Metabolism

As organisms age, switch over time occurs as a layered process, from molecular modifications to shifts in tissue homeostasis, ultimately leading to systemic transformations. Alterations in metabolism are found throughout the hierarchy of change and can be integral to the relationship between aging and disease as well as to the impact of aging on physiological processes such as inflammation and immunity.  Recent studies have contributed new insight into how the perturbation of metabolic factors can accelerate or impair aging processes.  Furthermore, there is a growing appreciation for the role of aging in the immune response and the need to take this phenomenon into account when considering therapeutic approaches, from vaccines to precision medicine.  It is an exciting time to consider the multifactorial nature of aging, the new biological discoveries being made, and how to translate these insights to human health as longevity reaches unprecedented levels worldwide.