Hormesis and Aging

Mild stress-induced hormetic stimulation of protective mechanisms in cells and organisms can result in potential antiaging effects. Detailed molecular mechanisms that bring about the hormetic effects are being increasingly understood and comprise a cascade of stress response and other pathways of maintenance and repair. Although the extent of immediate hormetic effects after exposure to a particular stress may only be moderate, the chain of events following initial hormesis leads to biologically amplified effects that are much larger, synergistic, and pleiotropic. A consequence of hormetic amplification is an increase in the homeodynamic space of a living system in terms of increased defense capacity and reduced load of damaged macromolecules. Hormetic strengthening of the homeodynamic space provides wider margins for metabolic fluctuation, stress tolerance, adaptation, and survival. Hormesis thus counterbalances the progressive shrinkage of the homeodynamic space that is the ultimate cause of aging, diseases, and death. Healthy aging may be achieved by hormesis through mild and periodic but not severe or chronic physical and mental challenges and by the use of nutritional hormesis incorporating mild stress-inducing molecules called hormetins.