Harman Denham
University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68198-4635, USA.
Antioxid Redox Signal. 2003 Oct;5(5):557-61. doi: 10.1089/152308603770310202.
Aging is the accumulation of changes that increase the risk of death. Aging changes can be attributed to development, genetic defects, the environment, disease, and an inborn process: the aging process. The latter is the major risk factor for disease and death after age 28 in the developed countries. In these countries, average life expectancies at birth (ALE-B) now range from 76 to 79 years, 6-9 years less than the limit of approximately 85 years imposed by aging. Aging changes may be caused by free radical reactions. The extensive studies based on this possibility hold promise that the ALE-B can be extended to >85 years and the maximum life span increased.
衰老指的是增加死亡风险的各种变化的累积。衰老变化可归因于发育、基因缺陷、环境、疾病以及一个内在过程：衰老过程。在发达国家，后者是28岁之后疾病和死亡的主要风险因素。在这些国家，出生时的平均预期寿命（ALE - B）目前在76至79岁之间，比衰老所设定的约85岁的极限少6至9岁。衰老变化可能由自由基反应引起。基于这种可能性的广泛研究有望将ALE - B延长至超过85岁，并增加最大寿命。
