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<jats:p>There is growing support for characterizing human aging from a life-course perspective, in terms of recognizing important influences operating from conception to death, and this approach provides a framework for understanding aging processes operating at the individual level. Kirkwood's disposable soma theory proposes that aging is a manifestation of imperfect somatic maintenance and repair processes. We can therefore predict that differing exposure to the determinants of somatic damage across the life-course, and variable capacity to respond in terms of repair are likely to underlie the wide variation in rates of aging between individuals.</jats:p>

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/s0959259807002225

Type

Journal article

Journal

Reviews in clinical gerontology

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Publication Date

11/2006

Volume

16

Pages

265 - 274