Growing Old Grungily
The New Scientist gives a overview of the "green theory" of aging - "that evolution has favoured cells that opt out of the detox business and allow molecular detritus to pile up. Gems and McElwee now believe that ageing is largely due to a breakdown in routine waste disposal and maintenance ... In the end, the crud piles up and poisons your cells. ... And what of the prospects for using the green theory to combat the problem of human ageing? As it is more general than, say, free-radical theories of damage, you'd probably have to do lots of different things to keep the junk at bay. But the hope is that one or two of the genes involved in this system will turn out to have big effects all by themselves. Then, perhaps, we can learn to harness their effects, and live longer lives. "
Link: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg18624991.400