Is Ageing a Terminal Disease?

Abstract Ageing is a biologic process that begins at conception. Experts have different definitions of ageing. Typically, age is defined as lifespan. The mean and median ages of death have increased in the United States and internationally during the past century largely due to improvements in public health (e.g., water purification and nutrition) and in medical care (e.g., vaccinations and antibiotics). Lifespan and healthspan are different but related concepts. An aged person can spend years in poor health, while an otherwise apparently healthy person can die young from an unrecognized genetic variant. Cells age at different rates and have different capacities for repair. Cell senescence is the process that leads to irreversible cell death. While stopping the ageing clock is an intriguing concept, slowing it is practical through attention to lifestyle, nutrition, and routine medical care. Discovering genes that influence the rate of ageing will lead to discovering drugs that retard cellular and brain senescence. Ageing has value. Older individuals among us care for their younger relatives and contribute their experiences and resources to relatives and society.