Why Do We Age and Die?

Aging, or senescence as it is sometimes called, is an inevitable progressive deterioration of physiological function with increasing age, demographically characterized by an age-dependent increase in mortality and decline of fecundity (capacity to produce an abundance of offspring). Or so you would think.

The truth is that aging is not universal. Some animals and many plants have escaped from aging entirely. Many more pass through long periods of their lives without aging. Some plants and animals die when they are done reproducing as evolutionary theory predicts; but among those that long outlive their fertility, there are some that don’t tend to their children or grandchildren. A few animals and many plants don’t age at all, but grow larger and stronger and more fertile through their entire lifespans. Some even have been observed to regress from mature states, and start life anew as larvae, with a full life expectancy ahead of them.

The lingering question: can aging in humans be reversed?

Learn More:
The Varieties of Aging in Nature  
The Evolution of Aging
The Role of Senescent Cells in Aging
To Stay Young, Kill Zombie Cells
Can Aging Be Reversed