An Overview of the Molecular and Cellular Biomarkers of Aging

Abstract

The pace of physiological aging differs much in individuals, thus the tools to measure it precisely are to be found. Every quantitative trait of the organism, which is known to change with age, may be used as a biomarker of aging, but consequently not all biomarkers are informative and valuable for diagnostic purposes. The present chapter contains a review of basic molecular and cellular biomarkers of aging which are subdivided into groups named after the main target (it may be a molecule, a signaling cascade (or molecular complex), an intracellular structure or its functions) which significant changes are measured during aging. The process of biomarkers’ evaluation is described in the review as well as the procedure of endophenotype evaluation. We also discussed the relationship between endophenotypes and biomarkers in the context of existing “omics” approach in biogerontology.