Ageing Influences Mechanisms Which Perturb Insulin Function with Increased Risk in Morbidity and Mortality

Abstract

Certain modifications or alterations concomitant with ageing include diminished glucose tolerance due to increased insulin resistance from receptor and/or post-receptor perturbations and decrement in pancreatic islet B-cell sensitivity to glucose. Insulin has effects on ageing and lifespan, and provides a mechanism for gene manipulations for people to have prolonged and healthier lives, and as preserved insulin sensitivity is associated with longevity. The insulin function is dependent on mechanisms which are determinants of its circulating abundance, secretion, clearance and sensitivity in its target tissues. Ageing enhances deranging impacts on these processes which debilitate insulin functionality, resulting in augmented risk for morbidity, untoward sequelae and mortality. Certain models of impaired insulin signaling are associated with prolonged longevity or resistance to life-threatening factors, such as oxidative stress. Insulin and insulin signaling is associated with successful ageing and longevity. This entry enunciates the importance of insulin sensitivity versus secretibility as being critical to the clinical strategy in the treatment, lifestyle changes, early interventions and control of type 2 diabetes. Calorie restriction enhances lifespan in numerous species. Diet manipulation that affects the glucose-insulin system ostensibly benefits lifespan and diminishes the incidence of ageing-related chronic diseases. During ageing, augmented circulating abundance of glucose and other reducing sugars secondary to age-triggered insulin resistance nonenzymatically reacts with proteins and nucleic acids to debilitate tissue elasticity. Adequate control of factors associated with risks for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other insulin and ageing sequelae can be retarded in the elderly with optimum sustenance of their lifestyles.