Biology of Aging

Nutrition is another area of biogerontologic research that intersects with the dietary and diet supplement industry. The study of the nutritional requirements of older people includes understanding their eating habits, their ability to absorb nutrients, their ability to metabolize those nutrients, and the role of over or under nutrition on health and longevity. A particularly interesting branch of this research is the study of the effects of restricting calorie intake. Caloric restriction, with adequate nutrition, is the only experimental manipulation currently known to extend life span. Understanding how caloric restriction produces extended longevity could provide valuable clues to basic aging processes as well as suggest new therapies for age-related diseases.