Time and the Metrics of Aging.

Abstract

The study of aging relates to changes in physical and functional dimensions that occur over time in living organisms. Yet, a model that establishes the <i>hierarchical relationship</i> and <i>interlaced time courses</i> of molecular, phenotypic, and functional hierarchical domains of aging in humans has not been established. We propose that studying the mechanisms and consequences of aging through the lens of these hierarchical domains and their connections will provide clarity in semantics and enhance a translational perspective. The study of human aging would be most informative from a life course, longitudinal perspective, given that manifestations of aging are already detectable early in life at the molecular level, yet the phenotypic responses remain masked by compensatory/resiliency mechanisms. Understanding the nature of these mechanisms is paramount for developing interventions that reduce the burden of disease and disability in older persons.