Preface

Nowadays, the aging process is explained on the basis of ambiguous hypotheses. According to one of them, the weakening of the defenses and repair mechanisms occurs in the old or‐ ganism. Another hypothesis indicates molecular changes, at the biochemical and genetic level during aging. The effect of these changes is the resistance of old cells with damaged, unrepaired DNA to the onset of apoptosis or autophagy. This leads to a higher number of diseases typical for old age such as atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy, pulmonary disor‐ ders and other organs, neurodegenerative diseases, and many cancers.

This publication sums up the knowledge of the genetic and biochemical factors changing during senescence. We summarize the pathophysiology observed both in aging people and in the plant world. The book also contains the latest views on molecular mechanism of liver dysfunction in old age.

We hope that this book may help in understanding the complex mechanisms of senescence pathogenesis and can be an inspiration to find factors to prevent senile diseases and to treat them effectively.

**Professor Jolanta Dorszewska, MD, PhD**

Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poland

#### **Professor Wojciech Kozubski, MD, PhD**

Chair, Department of Neurology Poznan University of Medical Sciences Poland
