Oxidation Damage Accumulation Aging Theory (The Novel Role of Glutathione)

Sekhar M.D. R.V. (2019) Oxidation Damage Accumulation Aging Theory (The Novel Role of Glutathione). In: Gu D., Dupre M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging. Springer, Cham https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2.

Link to Original Publication: https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-3-319-69892-2_51-1

myAACD Summary:

This paper defines the Oxidation Damage Theory of Aging, which suggests that aging occurs due to damaged lipids, protein, and DNA. This damage is caused by an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) over the lifetime. 

Aging is associated with a decline in the intracellular antioxidant glutathione, which contributes to the development of oxidative stress. One of the keys to preserving cellular function after middle age is to maintain adequate levels of glutathione. Previous research shows that correcting glutathione deficiency is helpful for reducing oxidative stress. 

This correction may also have important implications because the dual combination of glutathione deficiency and oxidative stress has been linked to many age-related complications. These complications include a decline in organ function and a wide variety of age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.