This lecture explores a fundamental process of biological ageing and examines approaches that may be used to improve late-life frailty.
Life has evolved to use the chemistry of iron. Iron is essential for both health and development, with a particularly high demand in early life. However, humans like all animals, lack a regulated means to get rid of excess iron. Consequently, we accumulate iron in various tissues and organs as we age. Our biochemical dependence on iron has established an inevitable liability in late life.
To combat unregulated cell growth (i.e. cancer) in later life, a regulated and iron-initiated cell death program called ferroptosis has evolved. We believe that frailty in late life is determined by the inevitable accumulation of iron, and inappropriate triggering of cell death by ferroptosis, which leads to impaired function and ultimately limits lifespan.