Molecular Mechanisms of Aging: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Epigenetic Modifications

Abstract

Aging is a multifactorial process characterized by a gradual loss of physiological functions, which leads to increased vulnerability of the organism to age-related diseases and, finally, to death. Several theories have been proposed to explain the nature of aging, one of which relates aging to the damage to cell structures and DNA caused by free radicals. However, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that the molecular mechanisms of aging are also associated with epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, noncoding RNA and histone changes. In this review, we will analyze the significance of the results of these studies and show how the interrelated effects of oxidative stress and epigenetics can explain the cause of the extinction of physiological functions during aging.