Caenorhabditis elegans is an exceptionally valuable model for aging research because of many advantages, including its genetic tractability, short lifespan, and clear age-dependent physiological changes. Aged C. elegans display a decline in their anatomical and functional features, including tissue integrity, motility, learning and memory, and immunity. Caenorhabditis elegans also exhibit many age-associated changes in the expression of microRNAs and stress-responsive genes and in RNA and protein quality control systems. Many of these age-associated changes provide information on the health of the animals and serve as valuable biomarkers for aging research. Here, we review the age-dependent changes in C. elegans and their utility as aging biomarkers indicative of the physiological status of aging.
© 2019 The Authors. Aging Cell published by the Anatomical Society and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.