Glossary of Scientific Terms

A complex molecule, also known as ATP, that creates energy in your cells.

Substances that may help protect cells against free radicals.

A genus of anaerobic bacteria making up the majority of the mammalian microbiota that play a fundamental role in processing complex molecules.

Everyone ages at a different rate.

Cellular metabolism encompasses the many enzymatic and chemical reactions in cells that provide the blueprint to sustain life.

Senescent cells accumulate across many organs and tissues with aging, but also in younger people at sites of chronic conditions.

Circadian rhythms are our physical, mental, and behavioral patterns that follow a 24-hour cycle.

Short for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats," CRISPR are stretches of DNA that, combined with Cas proteins (hence, CRISPR-Cas9) act as a bacterial immune system.

An enzyme that removes an acetyl group from proteins, changing the chemical structure and affecting gene expression, metabolism, and aging.

Any modification of the chemical structure of DNA that changes its coding or replication properties.

A change in the chemical structure of DNA that does not change the DNA coding sequence.

The biochemical program on top of your DNA sequence that dictates how the genome is used in each cell — your cell's operating system.

The complete set of genetic instructions in an organism.

The parts of the brain and spinal cord that consist primarily of neuronal cell bodies.

The complex, dynamic population of microorganisms in the gut that helps maintain immune and metabolic homeostasis.

Proteins that DNA wraps around for packaging — think of histones as spools and DNA as thread.

An amino acid that circulates in the blood.

A sudden feeling of feverish heat in the upper body.

Also known as hyaluronan, hyaluronic acid (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix found throughout the body, especially in the skin, joints, and eyes.

A neuropeptide produced by a subset of neurons in the hypothalamus that promotes the awake state.

A substance that produces an immune response.

The infiltration of immune cells and increases in inflammatory factors in tissues that can occur with aging.

Leptin is a hormone released from fat cells in adipose tissues.

The formation of new neurons in the brain.

The ovaries are two small female reproductive organs located on either side of the uterus.

A hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain, released when people touch and bond socially.

A family of beneficial molecules found in plants that may serve as powerful antioxidants when consumed by humans.

Polyunsaturated fat is a type of dietary fat found in olive oil, nuts, avocado, and fish.

A precursor, in human biology, is an inactive substance converted to an active one (a coenzyme, hormone, or antioxidant).

A process that not only delays aging but reverses it, leading to a younger cell, tissue, or body.

The route for precursors nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide (Nam) to become NAD+.

Senolytics target and help clear away senescent cells — ones that lose their functional abilities but linger in the system.

Born from blood stem cells, T cells coordinate multiple aspects of adaptive immunity.

A repetitive sequence of DNA found on the ends of chromosomes.

Derived from the Greek word thermos ("heat"), thermogenesis is any metabolic process that generates heat.

Vitamins are organic compounds required by the body for biological functions, but which aren't created in sufficient quantities endogenously.

Working memory is a type of short-term memory necessary for performing complex tasks like reasoning, comprehension, and learning.