title: The role of melatonin and serotonin in aging.
abstract: The hypothesis presented in this paper defines aging as a pathological process originating in the pineal gland. This results in a diminished output of melatonin, along with a diminished melatonin to serotonin ratio, leading to a decline in adaptive processes and a predictable syndrome manifested by the "diseases of the aged" (DOA) and subsequent death of the organism. That is, aging is a syndrome of relative melatonin deficiency resulting from the gradual failure of the pineal gland.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D008550:Melatonin