Longevity.
The science of aging well
Aging is not a passive process — it is driven by specific, measurable biological mechanisms. Telomere shortening limits cell division. Senescent cells accumulate and secrete inflammatory cytokines (SASP). NAD+ declines with age, impairing sirtuin activity and DNA repair. Mitochondrial function degrades. Autophagy — the cellular recycling system — slows down. Each of these mechanisms is a potential intervention point. Longevity science is not about living forever — it is about extending the years you spend healthy, functional, and free of chronic disease.
What the research actually shows.
Peer-reviewed findings on longevity — not opinions, not trends.
NAD+ levels decline by approximately 50% between ages 40 and 60. NAD+ is required for sirtuin activation (DNA repair, mitochondrial function) and PARP activity (single-strand DNA break repair). This decline is considered a central driver of age-related metabolic dysfunction.
Autophagy — the process by which cells digest and recycle damaged components — declines significantly with age. Fasting for 24-48 hours is one of the most potent known triggers of autophagy in humans, via AMPK activation and mTOR inhibition.
Senescent cells make up less than 1% of total cells but drive outsized damage through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) — a cocktail of inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and growth factors that damages neighboring healthy cells.
VO2 max declines approximately 10% per decade after age 30 in sedentary individuals but only 5% per decade in those who maintain vigorous exercise. The difference between the lowest and highest fitness quintile in mortality risk is larger than the difference between smokers and non-smokers.
What 6 peer-reviewed studies show.
Pelvic floor muscle training may be an effective treatment for postmenopausal urinary incontinence, but more research is needed to compare it with other treatments.
Physical activity is associated with increased muscle strength and muscle power in older adults.
Have a question about longevity?
Ask our biology AI — answers grounded in peer-reviewed research.
Every article on longevity is built on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and RCTs from PubMed. Evidence grade is always disclosed.
Evidence hierarchy →Biology Intelligence retrieves answers from our verified study database. Ask anything about longevity.
Open Biology Intelligence →Longevity connects to everything.
One study.
Every week.
A single peer-reviewed study broken down every week — the mechanism, the evidence grade, and what it means for you.
Subscribe freeOr follow @vitaehealthco for daily posts