Aging is Connected to an Oxidant/Antioxidant Imbalance Leading to Inflammation and Cellular Damage. Organisms Can Adapt to Stress Through a Response called Hormesis, Where Low Stress Levels Trigger Positive Adaptations that can Potentially Lead to a Longer Life
The oxidant/antioxidant imbalance, known as oxidative stress, contributes to the inflammation and cellular degeneration that leads to aging. While often seen as negative, oxidative stress is actually necessary for all living organisms in order to maintain and repair processes, crucial for survival and lifespan. Hormesis is an adaptive response that helps organisms adapt to oxidative stress. It follows a specific dose-response pattern where a low dose of a stressor stimulates a response, while a high dose inhibits it. The key idea is that many positive adaptations, that might support increased lifespan, can occur within this hormetic response. The hormetic response varies from individual, cell type, and mechanism. It is the major controlling framework with which drugs and supplements that enhance biological performance work.
