Figure 7. Schematic overview.

During normal aging iron unnecessarily accumulates. The safe storage of surplus iron in ferritin begins to fail in late life, causing a corresponding elevation of reactive, ‘labile’ iron. In combination with falling glutathione levels there is increased risk of ferroptotic cell death, via lipid peroxidation signals. These cell death events increase frailty and ultimately shorten organism lifespan. These pharmacological interventions potentially represent targets to improve late life vigour and fitness.