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Programmed Aging

Meaning

Programmed Aging is a biological theory asserting that the process of senescence is not purely a random accumulation of damage but is, at least in part, actively regulated by specific genetic and molecular pathways that have evolved to control lifespan and govern the timing of developmental decline. This perspective suggests that aging is a quasi-program, a continuation of developmental processes, that can potentially be modulated or reset through targeted intervention in these regulatory pathways. It contrasts with the “damage accumulation” theories of aging.