A biomimetic natural sciences approach to understanding the mechanisms of ageing in burden of lifestyle diseases

Abstract

The worldwide landscape of an ageing population and age-related disease brings with it huge socio-economic and public healthcare concerns across nations. Correspondingly, monumental human and financial resources have been invested in biomedical research, with a mission to decode the mechanisms of ageing and how these contribute to age-related disease. Multiple hallmarks of ageing have been identified that are common across taxa, highlighting their fundamental importance. These include dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism and telomeres biology, epigenetic modifications, cell–matrix interactions, proteostasis, dysregulated nutrient sensing, stem cell exhaustion, inflammageing and immuno-senescence. While our understanding of the molecular basis of ageing is improving, it remains a complex and multifactorial process that remains to be fully understood. A key aspect of the shortfall in our understanding of the ageing process lies in translating data from standard animal models to humans. Consequently, we suggest that a ‘biomimetic’ and comparative approach, integrating knowledge from species in the wild, as opposed to inbred genetically homogenous laboratory animals, can provide powerful insights into human ageing processes. Here we discuss some particularities and comparative patterns among several species from the animal kingdom, endowed with longevity or short lifespans and unique metabolic profiles that could be potentially exploited to the understanding of ageing and age-related diseases. Based upon lessons from nature, we also highlight several avenues for renewed focus in the pathophysiology of ageing and age-related disease (i.e. diet-microbiome-health axis, oxidative protein damage, adaptive homoeostasis and planetary health). We propose that a biomimetic alliance with collaborative research from different disciplines can improve our understanding of ageing and age-related diseases with long-term sustainable utility.

Association between intimate partner violence and leukocyte telomere length: a retrospective cohort study of 144 049 UK Biobank participants

“…These diseases may cover up the independent influence of psychosocial stressors (Schaakxs et al ., 2016 ). This, however, seems counterintuitive as TL shortening is reflective of an accumulation of ‘wear and tear’ from a range of exposome features that act both cumulatively, synergistically and independently (Dai et al ., 2021 ; Mafra et al ., 2021 ). Another possibility is that older adults with the most damaged TL may not participate in the study because of health issues or death (Schaakxs et al ., 2016 ); this healthy survivor effect without subjects with the most shortened TL might underestimate the true relationship between IPV and TL.…”

Accelerated Vascular Aging in Chronic Kidney Disease: The Potential for Novel Therapies

“…218 Perhaps of more immediate benefit is that such an approach is compatible with a strategy to enhance the function of Nrf2 and to maintain a normative microbiome in the current industrialized period of the Anthropocene. 2 Incorporation of a forest canopy into the building design for example, has proven salutogenic effects on cardio-renal diseases in an urban setting. 219 Nonprescribed medical interventions to enhance health and to promote wellbeing are enjoying a resurgence, as modern science provides a solid underpinning evidence base for how these might be effective.…”

“…1 In addition to the aging process per se, modern eating habits towards a more carnivorous diet and ultraprocessed foods spur on the diseasome of aging. 2 It is also conceivable that emerging environmental challenges, such as global warming, microplastics, and air pollution further actuate the diseasome of aging. 3 Mechanisms that promote cellular longevity tend to decrease in effectiveness with age and therefore it is unsurprising that aging presents as a major risk factor for NCCDs, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), CKD, and type-2 diabetes (T2D).…”

Vitamin K and Hallmarks of Ageing: Focus on Diet and Gut Microbiome

“…An unhealthy diet, characterized by a suboptimal intake of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains and high consumption of processed food products high in saturated fat, with added sugar and salt, constitutes a significant risk factor for poor health [ 12 ]. The shift towards a more carnivorous diet in modern Western society over the last century has resulted in a diet-associated “diseasome of ageing” [ 13 ]. A key hallmark of an industrialized diet is the intake of processed food, which not only causes excessive calorie intake [ 14 ] but also induces intestinal barrier permeability and microvascular disease [ 15 ].…”