Table 1.

Molecular pathways affecting aging and neurodegeneration.

	Aging	Neurodegeneration	Can the longevity pathway confer Neuroprotection?
Insulin/IGF-1 signaling	+	?	YES
TOR pathway	+	?	YES
Mitochondria	+	+	?

Insulin/IGF-1 and TOR signaling pathways are two of the main longevity determinants, whose downregulation not only increases the lifespan but also protects from neurodegenerative insults. Mitochondrial function is critical both for aging and neurodegeneration: mild dysfunction is beneficial and increases the lifespan of the organism, whereas a sustained deregulation leads to cell death.