Delayed Aging as a Biological Phenomenon:
The Role of Biochemical and Cellular Markers
Gular Zeynalova
Abstract. This study is devoted to a comprehensive assessment of biochemical, hormonal, and cellular hematological parameters in centenarians and their immediate relatives to identify their potential role in the development of the delayed aging phenotype. The study included centenarians and their relatives living in the Goychay region of Azerbaijan, a region where longevity has not previously been studied. For comparative analysis, parameters from control groups (individuals unrelated to centenarians) were used. The study analyzed lipid peroxidation parameters and the state of the blood antioxidant system, steroid hormone levels (progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone), and a number of cellular hematological parameters. The study results showed that centenarians develop a more favorable oxidative profile, characterized by reduced lipid peroxidation activity and relatively preserved antioxidant protection. The identified hormonal status characteristics indicate the potential role of steroid hormones in maintaining adaptive mechanisms and metabolic homeostasis during aging. Analysis of cellular and hematological parameters indicates the preservation of the functional state of the blood system, which can be considered an additional component of the healthy aging phenotype. These data confirm the importance of a comprehensive approach to studying aging biomarkers and expand our understanding of the molecular and biochemical foundations of healthy aging in humans.
Keywords: centenarians, aging, aging biomarkers, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant system, oxidative stress, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, hematological parameters, hereditary factors, Azerbaijan