A Review of Stem Cells: Why Do We Age?

Abstract

The answer to “why we age and how we stop it” is one of the most sought-after explanations of all time. The key to stopping, or at least slowing, the process of mammalian ageing begins by understanding the mechanisms behind it. The aim of this review is to shed light on the inner workings of stem cell ageing and extrapolate possibilities for health span extension. Understanding ageing (and not just as the process that brings us closer to death, but as a declining quality of life) at a deeper level not only allows for breakthroughs in slowing ageing, but also permits practitioners to recommend and personalize the best course of treatment for any disease or disability based on a patient’s level of stem cell activity. The findings, in summary, indicate that stem cells themselves can be either the cause or the victim of ageing and there are multiple factors which determine the outcome. Whilst many stem cell types don’t diminish in number over time, their function does decline. An ultimately, cell senescence is the most prominent key to understanding stem-cell associated ageing.