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Free radical theory of aging: Consequences of mitochondrial aging

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Abstract

Mitochondria may serve as biologic clocks. This paper provides plausible explanations, based on mitochondrial aging, of some aging phenomenon: a) the inverse relationship between basal metabolic rate and life span; b) the antioxidants studies thus far which increase the average life span of mice, depress body weight and fail to lengthen maximum life span; c) the association of degenerative diseases with the terminal part of the life span; d) the exponential nature of the mortality curve, and e) the beneficial effect of caloric restriction on degenerative diseases and life span. A short discussion is also presented of the effect of exercise on life span and aging of muscle mitochondria.

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  1. Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, 68105

    Denham Harman

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Harman, D. Free radical theory of aging: Consequences of mitochondrial aging. AGE 6, 86–94 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02432509

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