What is the Difference Between Aging and Senescence?

Aging and senescence are two distinct biological processes that are related but not interchangeable. The main difference between them is as follows:

• Aging refers to the progressive decline of an organism's physiological functions over time, eventually leading to cell deterioration and destruction. It is a natural process that occurs as a result of the accumulation of unrepaired DNA damages, which can lead to the deterioration of cells.
• Senescence, on the other hand, is a state of stable cell cycle arrest, typically in response to DNA damage, and is characterized by a proinflammatory secretome and other phenotypic alterations. Senescence occurs throughout the lifespan, including during embryogenesis, and plays an important role during development as well as during wound healing.

In summary, aging is the deterioration of cells over time, while senescence is the process in which deteriorated cells undergo cellular arrest. Senescence is a result of aging, as it targets and arrests aged cells to prevent the continuation of the cell cycle.

Comparative Table: Aging vs Senescence

Aging and senescence are related but distinct processes. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

In summary, aging is a degenerative process that affects the entire organism, while senescence is a specific state of cell cycle arrest that contributes to the overall aging process. Both processes are interconnected and influenced by various factors, but they are not interchangeable.