Contents
Special Issue Topic

Determinants of Exceptional Longevity

Guest Editor

Dr. Calogero Caruso E-Mail

Laboratory of Immunopathology and Immunosenescence, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

About the Special lssue

The ageing process is driven by a lifelong accumulation of molecular damage, resulting in a gradual increase in the fraction of cells carrying defects. After sufficient time has passed, the increasing levels of these defects interfere with both the performance and functional reserves of tissues and organs, resulting in a breakdown of self-organizing system and a reduced ability to adapt to the environment. That can cause age-related frailty, disability, and disease. Maintenance mechanisms slow, indeed, the rate of damage accumulation. Genetics, epigenetics, sex and gender, socio-economic and educational status, chance and life circumstances, nutrition and physical activity, stress management and social support, pathogen load and immune response, all contribute to modulating positively or negatively the maintenance mechanisms. Different combinations of these factors create the possibility to avoid age-related pathologies and become centenarian, i.e., these factors are determinants of extreme longevity.

Centenarians show relatively good health, being able to perform their routine daily life and to escape or delay age-related diseases. This Special Issue aims to understand, through a “positive biology” approach, how to prevent, reduce, or delay frailty and disability amongst the elderly. Indeed, rather than making diseases the central focus of study, “positive biology” seeks to understand the causes of positive phenotypes and explain the biological mechanisms of health. Therefore, studies on different aspects of centenarians are welcome. Original research papers and reviews are equally welcome and may involve in vitro and in vivo studies.

Keywords: Genetics, environment, epigenetics, immunity, inflammation, lifestyle

Published Articles

Open Access Review
The low expression of matrix metalloproteinases: a key to longevity?
Katrin Sak
Published: April 08, 2024 Explor Med. 2024;5:158–166
1845 34 0
Open Access Commentary
From positive psychology to positive biology: laughter and longevity
Freda Gonot-Schoupinsky
Published: December 29, 2023 Explor Med. 2023;4:1109–1115
4649 97 2
Open Access Review
Roles of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and mitophagy in progeroid syndromes as well as physiological ageing
Naoko Suga ... Satoru Matsuda
Published: October 31, 2023 Explor Med. 2023;4:822–838
3011 906 1
Open Access Original Article
Body mass, blood pressure, and cognitive functioning among octogenarians and centenarians
Peter Martin ... Leonard W. Poon
Published: September 15, 2023 Explor Med. 2023;4:625–636
1729 34 0
Open Access Review
Oxidative stress and inflammation: the root causes of aging
Prasert Sobhon ... Sawaek Weerakiet
Published: April 17, 2023 Explor Med. 2023;4:127–156
4172 108 6