It is commonly believed that aging is a natural cause of death, as the body's systems gradually deteriorate with age.
However, a recent study conducted by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases suggests that aging is not the direct cause of death, but rather a stage that makes the body more susceptible to specific diseases that ultimately lead to death.
The researchers found that the famous signs of aging, such as the accumulation of dead cells, damaged DNA, and the deterioration of chromosome covers (protective structures at the end of each chromosome in our cells), are not the direct killer, but merely indicators of the body's vulnerability and increased susceptibility to fatal diseases like heart failure.
In the study, the research team analyzed 2410 reports of human autopsies and revealed that the circulatory system (the cardiovascular system) is the body's main vulnerability. The most common cause of death was cardiovascular disease, especially heart attacks that were often not diagnosed until after the autopsy, and accounted for 39% of the cases.
Even among centenarians, who are generally believed to be in good health, aging was not the cause of death. About 70% of them died from heart and vascular-related causes, and a quarter from respiratory system failure, while lower percentages died from the failure of other specific organs.
These findings suggest that "anti-aging" drugs do not slow down aging itself, but only delay the onset of a particular disease. According to the analysis, the causes of death were distributed as follows: heart attacks 39%, heart or lung failure 38%, strokes about 18%, pulmonary blood clots 10%, and rupture of the main artery less than 10%.
The researchers added: "Aging research has long been influenced by assumptions that may not reflect the true complexity of the process. One of the most common assumptions is that extending life necessarily means slowing aging. In fact, lifespan extension often reflects a delay in the onset of certain diseases, not a slowing of aging itself."
The researchers warned that the majority of studies on "signs of aging" were conducted on elderly animals, making it difficult to determine whether these interventions slow aging or merely treat its symptoms. In the few studies that included young animals, the treatment helped both young and old animals alike, suggesting that the outcomes represent an overall enhancement of health, not an adjustment to the aging rate.
One of the most significant signs of aging, the "zombie cells," are damaged cells that stop dividing but do not die. Instead, they remain in the body and secrete inflammatory substances, contributing to aging and diseases such as Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes. It is claimed that these cells are the main driver of aging, and if this is true, their removal should reduce diseases in the elderly and slow down the long-term organic deterioration.
The researchers emphasize that assessing the ability of these interventions requires testing them on mid-life animals to track deterioration with age.
