Ageing

Ageing, or senescence, is a complex, progressive biological process characterized by the gradual deterioration of physiological function and increased susceptibility to disease within living organisms. At the molecular level, the mechanisms driving this decline include telomere shortening, accumulation of somatic mutations, and cellular senescence, wherein cells enter a non-dividing, metabolically active state. The overall decline is viewed as a systemic failure resulting from cumulative damage that surpasses the body's capacity for repair. Research into the hallmarks of ageing focuses on identifying the fundamental biological pathways—such as altered intercellular communication, metabolic dysregulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction—that underlie the loss of homeostasis, representing a core challenge in biology and medicine.