Could Physics Help Us Solve the Mystery of Aging?

Scientists propose that physics and mathematical principles could hold the key to unraveling the enigma of aging. Despite decades of research, the reasons behind aging and its effects on living organisms remain largely unknown. However, physicists believe that their tools and concepts may prove instrumental in shedding light on this complex phenomenon.

In recent years, a global conference on the physics of aging, or gerophysics, brought together over 160 scientists from various fields, including physics, biology, and medicine. This interdisciplinary approach, known as gerophysics, aims to develop a predictive and testable science of aging using concepts such as thermodynamics and network theory.

The conference's organizers hope to establish mathematically precise definitions of terms like aging and healthspan, as well as to uncover simple mathematical principles that can explain the intricate processes contributing to longevity.

One prominent researcher in the field, Max Unfried, a fellow at the National University of Singapore's Centre for Healthy Longevity, shared insights on the maximum lifespan of humans, the potential insights from bears and bats, and the significance of thermodynamics in the future of medicine. Unfried emphasized that biology cannot create its own rules; everything must adhere to the laws of physics.

By applying physics to aging, scientists can examine the stability or instability of systems, which may contribute to increased mortality rates.

Gerophysics challenges traditional biological approaches to aging by introducing new perspectives. For instance, it questions why biological processes, such as the linear change in genes, proteins, and lipids with age, result in an exponential increase in mortality risk. Physics may hold the answers to this phenomenon, as emergent phenomena arising from linear processes could be better understood through mathematical models.

Furthermore, gerophysics explores the maximum lifespan of humans, which is currently around 120 years. Physicists suggest that there may be a barrier preventing humans from surpassing this limit, even if the human population were vastly increased. Additionally, gerophysics identifies two broad categories of animals based on their stability: stable animals that maintain equilibrium for longer and die later, and unstable animals that decline more rapidly towards death.