The biology of aging

Abstract

Nothing has been demonstrated to slow or reverse the primary aging process in humans; instead, the factors that are known to affect longevity do so by their influence on disease development, which is part of secondary aging. Preventive strategies against secondary aging are aimed at maintaining health and functional capacity and rectangularizing, rather than extending, the survival curve. Interventions for preventive geriatrics and successful aging include a low-fat, low-energy diet with a high content of fruits and vegetables; exercise; and hormone replacement.