Glossary
What This Glossary Is For
This glossary gives concise definitions of key terms used across ageing biology, biomarkers, healthspan, and geroscience. It is designed to clarify terminology quickly, not to replace the longer explainer pages elsewhere on the site.
Start With Common Terms
- Biological Age: how biological state can differ from years lived.
- Healthspan: the years lived in relatively good health.
- Lifespan: the total length of life.
- Cellular Senescence: a non-dividing but active cellular state relevant to ageing and disease.
- Autophagy: the cellular recycling process often discussed in longevity research.
Age Concepts
- Biological Age
- A measure of physiological state that may differ from years since birth.
- Chronological Age
- The amount of time that has passed since birth.
- Epigenetic Age
- A biological age estimate derived from patterns of DNA methylation.
- Healthspan
- The portion of life spent in relatively good health and function.
- Lifespan
- The total length of time an organism lives.
Cellular Processes
- Autophagy
- A cellular recycling process that degrades and reuses damaged components.
- Cellular Senescence
- A state in which cells stop dividing but remain metabolically active.
- Epigenetics
- The study of changes in gene expression that do not alter the DNA sequence itself.
- Inflammaging
- Chronic, low-grade inflammation that tends to increase with age.
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- A decline in mitochondrial quality or efficiency that can impair cellular energy handling.
- Telomeres
- Protective structures at chromosome ends that help preserve genome stability.
Fields and Research Terms
- Gerontology
- The scientific study of ageing and later life.
- Geroscience
- A field focused on how biological ageing drives chronic disease and late-life decline.
- Morbidity
- The presence or burden of disease, illness, or medical conditions.
- Parabiosis
- An experimental model in which two animals share a circulatory environment.
Functional and Clinical Terms
- Sarcopenia
- An age-associated muscle disorder involving low strength and impaired physical performance.
Note
This glossary defines terms as they are generally used in geroscience. Definitions and preferred frameworks can evolve as research develops.