SENS vs. the hallmarks of aging: competing visions, shared challenges

TL;DR

This paper compares two major aging theories, SENS and the Hallmarks of Aging, to clarify their goals and approaches.

Contribution

It provides a critical analysis of SENS and the Hallmarks of Aging, highlighting their conceptual and methodological differences.

Findings

SENS focuses on repairing biological damage to counter aging.

The Hallmarks of Aging emphasize understanding fundamental aging mechanisms.

Both frameworks influence aging research but have underexplored aspects.

Abstract

Aging research is often framed within pluralistic frameworks that emphasize cellular and molecular damage processes. Among the most influential are Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence (SENS), which aims to counteract biological decline through targeted damage repair, and the Hallmarks of Aging (HoA), which seeks to identify fundamental mechanisms underlying this process. Both proposals, although diverse, significantly influence contemporary approaches to the challenges posed by aging. However, despite extensive discussion, we contend that key conceptual and methodological aspects remain insufficiently explored. This paper seeks to advance the debate by critically analyzing and comparing their foundational goals, theoretical premises, and research frameworks. Specifically, we examine their definitions of aging, perspectives on health and disease, approaches to scientific evidence and causal interventions, and communications strategies. In doing so, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding and more nuanced assessment of both SENS and the HoA.