Age-related disease: Effective intervention

Fundamental interventions in the aging process at the cellular level are not merely feasible but are increasingly being shown to have clinical relevance. Although aging has generally been addressed in terms of clinical outcomes rather than the aging process itself, there is a growing appreciation of the possibility of targeting aging directly. This change in clinical approach suggests three key questions: (1) What is the optimal point of intervention in the cell aging process? (2) What are the most effective and safest techniques for such interventions? (3) Can such interventions permit us to merely to ameliorate but also to cure and prevent age-related human disease? These questions are addressed in terms of both currently available and near-term biotechnology.