| Aging may be defined as the time-dependent deterioration in function of an organism. While it has broad-based physiological effects, aging is fundamentally the result of changes in cellular structure and function, biochemistry and metabolism (Table 42.1). The result of aging, even healthy aging, is increased susceptibility to disease and increased probability of death - the end-point of aging. However, aging is not a disease. Diseases affect a fraction of the population; aging affects all of us, whether it is programmed or stochastic.
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| With the aging of the population, gerontology and geriatric medicine are becoming increasingly important in the practice of medicine. This chapter focuses on the biochemical changes associated with aging and addresses them from the viewpoint of chemical theories of aging, with emphasis on the free radical theory of aging. General factors affecting longevity and the impact of interventions on aging and longevity are discussed, including discussion of the aging of specific organ systems.
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