Biogerontology

Definition

Biogerontology is the scientific study of the biological basis of ageing and age-related disease. It examines why organisms age, which cellular and molecular mechanisms contribute to age-related decline, and how those mechanisms might be measured or modified. [1] [2] [3]

Why It Matters in Ageing Research

Biogerontology matters because ageing is the largest shared risk factor for many chronic diseases and functional decline. By studying mechanisms such as genomic instability, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered nutrient sensing, chronic inflammation, and stem cell exhaustion, biogerontology provides the biological foundation for research into healthspan, lifespan, and interventions that may target ageing processes. [4] [5] [6]

Common Confusion

• Biogerontology is not the same as geriatrics, which focuses on medical care for older adults.
• Biogerontology is broader than longevity medicine and includes basic research in cells, animals, and populations.
• Biogerontology does not assume that ageing has one single cause or one simple intervention.

Related Reading

• Hallmarks of Ageing
• Geroscience
• Gerontology
• Healthspan

References

1. Rattan, S. I. S. (2018). Biogerontology: research status, challenges and opportunities. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v89i2.7403
2. Kirkwood, T. B. L., & Austad, S. N. (2000). Why do we age? https://doi.org/10.1038/35041682
3. Kirkwood, T. B. L. (2005). Understanding the Odd Science of Aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2005.01.027
4. Kennedy, B. K., et al. (2014). Geroscience: Linking Aging to Chronic Disease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.039
5. Lopez-Otin, C., et al. (2013). The Hallmarks of Aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039
6. Lopez-Otin, C., et al. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.001