Pharmacological intervention in invertebrate aging

Prompted by successful genetic interventions in aging we now consider the utility of pharmacological interventions. A few clear cases of lifespan extension resulting from exposure to compounds suggest that aging can be slowed and that the pharmacology of lifespan extension is a feasible area for research. Compounds that slow aging may prompt the rational design of therapeutics against age-related diseases. Here we evaluate invertebrate models for drug discovery in aging and outline how the field may develop from these simple first steps.