The genes that influence the ageing process seem often to be genes that influence how well the body can maintain and repair its cells. For example, a rare genetic condition called Werner's syndrome is characterised by generally fast ageing. This seems to make them age faster than the rest of us. An important type of damage that affects our cells is oxidative damage that results from attack by free radicals.
Free radicals are by-products of our body's requirement for oxygen.
Luckily, our bodies know all about the dangers of oxygen - since the first plant species started pumping large quantities of this gas into our planet's atmosphere many billions of years ago. We have evolved powerful anti-oxidant enzymes that guard our cells against attack by free radicals. The bad news is that these defences are not perfect. One of the great hopes for therapies to slow some of the ravages of ageing is to boost the body's natural defences. Lifestyles Ageing is caused by a build up of damage in our body - we can control some aspects of the ageing process.