Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The rate of aging, the risk of chronic disease, and the length of life can be profoundly influenced by environmental factors acting during both prenatal and postnatal development.Analysis of life histories of organisms living under natural conditions identified many examples of reciprocal relationship between pace-of-life (POL) and longevity.In mammals, the term POL is used to describe the rate of growth, the age of puberty, the early life fecundity, and the metabolic rate.The reciprocal relationship between POL and longevity is supported by studies in laboratory mice.In these animals, pharmacological suppression of postnatal growth can extend longevity.Moreover, in Prop1 df mice genetically predisposed to exceptional longevity, experimental acceleration of growth during adolescence can shorten their life expectancy.Available data suggest that the mechanistic links between POL and aging include epigenetic regulation of the expression of genes impacting glucose homeostasis, energy and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and likely also other characteristics known to impact longevity.We conclude that POL during childhood and adolescence may represent a relatively accessible and practical target for life style and pharmacological interventions aimed at improving adult health and life expectancy.
Institution: SIU Medicine
Language: English
Subfield: Aging
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7155097964