Figure 4. The Aging Snowball Effect.

Aging is the result of the accumulation of dysregulation and damage in a snowball effect that eventually ends in death. A small change or dysfunction of a cellular protective mechanism (for example, transcriptional networks or chromatin state) can begin the aging process by triggering the emergence of other age-associated changes. However, the aging snowball effect and the appearance of age-associated disease and dysfunction can be delayed or even reversed using aging therapeutics and interventions (reprogramming, parabiosis, epigenetic drugs, exercise, and diet). Eventually, the accumulation of age-associated changes may become so great that a “point of no return” is reached and interventions cannot extend lifespan or healthspan.