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Cited by 256

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The free‐radical damage theory: Accumulating evidence against a simple link of oxidative stress to ageing and lifespan

Speakman, John R., Selman, Colin·2011·BioEssays
DOI 10.1002/bies.201000132
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Abstract

Recent work on a small European cave salamander (Proteus anguinus) has revealed that it has exceptional longevity, yet it appears to have unexceptional defences against oxidative damage. This paper comes at the end of a string of other studies that are calling into question the free‐radical damage theory of ageing. This theory rose to prominence in the 1990s as the dominant theory for why we age and die. Despite substantial correlative evidence to support it, studies in the last five years have raised doubts over its importance. In particular, these include studies of mice with the major antioxidant genes knocked out (both singly and in combination), which show the expected elevation in oxidative damage but no impact on lifespan. Combined, these findings raise fundamental questions over whether the free‐radical damage theory remains useful for understanding the ageing process, and variation in lifespan and life histories. Editor's suggested further reading in BioEssays Blind cave salamanders age very slowly: A new member of Methuselah's Bestiary Abstract

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Metadata

Authors
Speakman, J. R., & Selman, C.
Venue
BioEssays
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2011-02-02
Volume
33
Issue
4
Pages
255-259
ISSN
  • 0265-9247 (ISSN-L)
  • 1521-1878
DOI
10.1002/bies.201000132
OpenAlex
W2148148972
Cited by
256
References
67
FWCI
2.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: The free‐radical damage theory: Accumulating evidence against a simple link of oxidative stress to ageing and lifespan. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1002/bies.201000132
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Speakman, J. R., & Selman, C. (2011). The free‐radical damage theory: Accumulating evidence against a simple link of oxidative stress to ageing and lifespan. BioEssays. https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201000132

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