Abstract
The analysis of cases of unusually high longevity of naked mole rats and an alternative explanation of the phenomenon of calorie restriction effects in monkeys allowed for postulating that any factor preventing an excess of energy consumed, leads to increased lifespan, both in evolutionary and an individual lifetime scale. It is postulated that in mammals the most destructive processes resulting in shortening of life are not restricted to the phenomena explained by the hyperfunction theory of Mikhail Blagosklonny. Hyperfunction, understood as unnecessary or even adverse syntheses of cell components, can be to some extent prevented by lowered intake of nutrients when body growth ceases. We postulate also the contribution of glyco/lipotoxicity to aging, resulting from the excess of energy. Besides two other factors seem to participate in aging. One of them is lack of telomerase activity in some somatic cells. The second factor concerns epigenetic phenomena. Excessive activity of epigenetic maintenance system probably turns off some crucial organismal functions. Another epigenetic factor playing important role could be the micro RNA system deciding on expression of numerous age-related diseases. However, low extrinsic mortality from predation is a conditio sine qua non of the expression of all longevity phenotypes in animals. Among all long-lived animals, naked mole rats are unique in the elimination of neoplasia, which is accompanied by delayed functional symptoms of senescence. The question whether simultaneous disappearance of neoplasia and delayed senescence is accidental or not remains open.
Highlights
To date, over 300 theories explaining aging were put forward
His sarcastic opinions are best summarized by the title of his article: “Entropy Explains Aging, Genetic Determinism Explains Longevity, and Undefined Terminology Explains Misunderstanding Both” [8]
It is not that calorie restriction prolongs life, but that the excess of calories shortens it. This alternative explanation of calorie restriction effects suggested to us the need for analysis of the possibility that unusually high longevity of naked mole rats (NMRs), when compared to similar rodents, can result from preventing the energy surplus
Summary
Over 300 theories explaining aging were put forward. Some of them, like the uncritically accepted free radical theory of aging [1], do not find unequivocal experimental support [2]. This alternative explanation of calorie restriction effects suggested to us the need for analysis of the possibility that unusually high longevity of NMRs, when compared to similar rodents, can result from preventing the energy surplus. This Author concluded that the general quality of living system is destabilized by an excess energy production, which influenced the rate of senescence and longevity.
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