Alan Tomusiak reviews animal and human studies to demonstrate that methods like senescent cell clearance boost healthspan without notably extending maximum lifespan, whereas caloric restriction significantly slows aging. He contrasts PhenoAge and GrimAge epigenetic clocks and genetic variants to highlight distinct pathways controlling healthspan versus lifespan.
Key points
- Senescent cell clearance improves healthspan but leaves maximum lifespan largely unchanged in mice.
- Caloric restriction significantly delays both disease onset and maximum lifespan limits via metabolic stress pathways.
- Epigenetic clocks PhenoAge and GrimAge capture different aging dimensions, highlighting divergence of healthspan and mortality predictions.
Why it matters: Understanding separate aging endpoints guides development of targeted therapies that optimize both disease resistance and lifespan extension.
Q&A
- What distinguishes healthspan from maximum lifespan?
- How do senescent cells affect aging?
- Why does caloric restriction extend maximum lifespan?
- What are PhenoAge and GrimAge clocks?