Healthy ageing

100 years ago it was quite normal for a woman to die at the age of 50. Today this is not the rule anymore. The average life expectancy of a newborn girl is nowadays 82 years. This is a difference of more than 30 years. In these 30 years one wishes to stay healthy. However, here are some complications. The older we get, the more typical ageing-associated diseases we are likely to encounter, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. It suggests the equation: higher age = more diseases. Researchers of the Cologne Cluster of Excellence on cellular stress responses in ageing-associated diseases (CECAD Cologne) try to find answers to the question whether this equation always has to hold true. Aim of the researchers is to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying lifespan regulation and ageing-associated diseases and develop new therapeutic interventions.