[The interactions between the circadian clock and aging].

It is well known that almost all organisms ranging from single cell creatures to human beings exhibit circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior under the control of the internal circadian clock. The internal circadian clock is composed of a master clock which is localized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the peripheral clocks located in peripheral tissues such as the liver and heart. Along with aging, the circadian rhythm alters in many aspects, including the amplitude, free-running period and the expression phase. On the other hand, the circadian clock also influences the process of aging. The disorganized circadian rhythm accelerates the aging process. This article briefly reviews the recent progress in the interactions between the circadian clock and aging, and provides evidence to further understand the mechanism of aging and the impact of aging on the organisms.