Bioelectricity: A Top-Down Control Model to Promote More Effective Aging Interventions

Aging is a complex, multifaceted process that affects all organisms, characterized by functional decline and increased risk of death. Although the molecular and cellular basis of aging has been extensively studied, the roles of bioelectricity, biochemical gradients, and biomechanical gradients in this process remain less understood. This review investigates the current knowledge concerning these factors and their influence on aging at molecular, cellular, and whole organism levels. I examine the connection between steady-state membrane voltage (Vmem) and mitotic division, the relationship between mitochondrial membrane potential and aging, the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating gene expression, and the deliberate manipulation of bioelectric gradients to achieve desired outcomes in aging. This review emphasizes the need for further research to better comprehend the role of bioelectricity and chemical gradients in aging, and to identify potential targets for interventions to delay or alleviate the effects of aging.