Publisher's Synopsis
The field of life science has historically paid little attention to the topic of human ageing due to the fact that the average human life expectancy was only 35-45 years until the beginning of the 20th century. The scientific and technological advancements achieved in recent decades have led to a direct increase in the average lifespan of individuals by approximately 20 years. The duration of an individual's existence, quantified in years, is commonly denoted as their lifespan. The phenomenon of ageing is ubiquitous among eukaryotic organisms, ranging from yeast to humans, and is typified by a set of common features. The phenomenon of ageing is regulated by the correlation between time and the stages of growth and decline, culminating in senescence (which commences after the cessation of reproduction, and is characterised by a decline in energy and function, ultimately leading to mortality) (Finch, 1990). The process of development is characterised by the stage at which an organism is most functional, while senescence is marked by the point at which it is no longer functional.
