Diabetes and Aging

Abstract

In this chapter, we concentrate on aging as a risk factor for diabetes and diabetes as a risk factor for additional age-related diseases, and provide an overview of the role of insulin signaling/action in the control of mammalian aging. We discuss current knowledge regarding the possible causes of altered glucose homeostasis during aging, including decreased mitochondrial function, lipotoxicity, and inflammation. Also, we review findings from studies that suggest that therapies used to prevent and treat diabetes, such as metformin and physical activity, also may have more global effects to modulate aging, and therefore be used against many aging-related diseases.