Hypothesis Volume 2, Issue 5 pp 265—273

Figure 1. Program of growth and quasi-program of aging. The TOR pathway is activated by growth factors, hormones and nutrients. This activation is beneficial early in life by stimulating growth and muscle hypertrophy. Evolutionary perspective: This was especially important for prehistoric men, living in dangerous environment that required physical strength. mTOR is involved in aging later in life, but most men died young from accidental death. Thus, robustness early in life is associated with accelerated aging.