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Role of Free Radicals in Senescence

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Special Focus on the Biology of Aging

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Abstract

Free radicals are believed to play a fundamental role in a wide variety of biological phenomena, including aging. The involvement of free radicals in aging has usually been attributed to the destabilizing effects of structural damage. Recent evidence has indicated, however, that there are at least two other mechanisms by which free radicals may influence the aging process. Specific free radical reactions and their effects in biological systems have been reviewed by several authors and will not be extensively examined here to avoid redundancy. Instead, the mechanisms by which free radicals are postulated to influence the aging process shall be the focus of this discussion. It should be noted that none of the mechanisms to be discussed are exclusive of the others and, in fact, all of these explanations may ultimately prove to be necessary to understand fully the role of free radicals in the aging process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Rockefeller University, USA

    R. G. Allen

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  1. Center for Gerontological Research, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Vincent J. Cristofalo Ph.D.

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Allen, R.G. (1991). Role of Free Radicals in Senescence. In: Cristofalo, V.J., Lawton, M.P. (eds) Special Focus on the Biology of Aging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-38445-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-38445-9_12

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