Aging as an Information Thermodynamics Problem: A Unified Framework for Biological Senescence

Abstract

We present a comprehensive theoretical framework establishing that biological ag- ing is fundamentally governed by the irreversible degradation of regulatory information in open, non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems. Through computational exploration guided by physical principles, we demonstrate that aging results from the progressive loss of biological information due to thermodynamic constraints, where information degradation causally precedes molecular damage accumulation. Our framework unifies disparate theories of aging under a single causal architecture grounded in information theory, non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and evolutionary biology. We provide rigor- ous mathematical formalism, validate key predictions using synthetic data simulations, and demonstrate applicability to real biological data through analysis of publicly avail- able epigenetic aging datasets. The framework generates specific, testable predictions for empirical validation and positions information restoration as a primary intervention strategy for extending healthspan and lifespan.

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