Mounting evidence suggests that DNA damage plays a central role in aging. Multiple tiers of defense have evolved to reduce the accumulation of DNA damage, including reducing damaging molecules, repairing DNA damage, and inducing senescence or apoptosis in response to persistent DNA damage. Mutations in or failure of these pathways can lead to accelerated or premature aging and age-related decline in vital organs, supporting the hypothesis that maintaining a pristine genome is paramount for human health. Understanding how we cope with DNA damage could inform on the aging process and further on how deficient DNA maintenance manifests in age-related phenotypes. This knowledge may lead to the development of novel interventions promoting healthspan.

中文翻译：

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保护衰老的基因组。

越来越多的证据表明，DNA损伤在衰老中起着核心作用。为了减少DNA损伤的积累，已经发展了多种防御层，包括减少破坏性分子，修复DNA损伤以及响应持续性DNA损伤而诱导衰老或凋亡。这些途径的突变或失败会导致加速或过早的衰老以及与年龄相关的重要器官的衰落，从而支持了维持原始基因组对人类健康至关重要的假设。了解我们如何应对DNA损伤可能有助于了解衰老过程，并进一步说明与年龄相关的表型中DNA缺乏维持的表现。这些知识可能会导致开发新的促进健康跨度的干预措施。