NETWORK THEORY OF AGING

Evolution theory indicates that investment in mechanisms of somatic ma intenance and repair is likely to be limited, suggesting that aging ma y result from the accumulation of unrepaired somatic defects. An impor tant corollary of this hypothesis is that multiple mechanisms of aging operate in parallel. We describe a recently developed ''network theor y of aging'' that integrates the contributions of defective mitochondr ia, aberrant proteins, and free radicals in the aging process and that includes the protective effects of antioxidant enzymes and proteolyti c scavengers. Possibilities for further extension of the theory and it s role in prediction and simulation of experimental results are discus sed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.