As we approach the twenty-first century, aging is likely to emerge as a leading issue for biological and biomedical scientists. The elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of aging may constitute the most effective approach to the prevention or postponement of major geriatric disorders. An understanding of why individual subjects vary in their susceptibilities to these disorders will be of special significance to future medicine. To further this understanding, a unique dialogue was initiated between biologists, geneticists, biochemists, pathologists, immunologists, physicians, and other biomedical scientists concerned with the molecular mechanisms of aging, which is reflected in this volume. The authors consider model systems based on yeast, simple fungi, roundworms, fruitflies, mice, and humans. They review the current status of the evolutionary theory of aging, of oxidatively modified proteins as markers of aging, the role of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage in aging, and the pathogenic mechanisms in common geriatric disorders such as Alzheimer?s disease, Parkinson?s disease, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The reports summarize their debate on key issues: How can research on diverse model systems contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of aging and longevity? Do research findings from diverse model systems support oxidative damage theories of aging? Does research on mitochondria in diverse model systems provide at least one unifying mechanism of aging? Do common underlying mechanisms of aging contribute to the pathogenesis of major geriatric disorders? Goal of this Dahlem Workshop: to examine molecular processes underlying genetic and physiological changes that occur with normal aging and geriatric disorders.
