New Control Theory Framework Proposes a Safer Approach to Aging Drug Discovery

BUFFALO, NY — October 15, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging on September 16, 2026, titled “Control theory of aging and longevity for gerotherapeutic drug discovery: state space, vector fields, modalities, safety, and the minimum safe cost of functional restoration.”
The paper introduces a mathematical framework for understanding aging and guiding the development of therapies aimed at preserving or restoring biological function. By applying principles from control theory, the researchers propose evaluating treatments according to their ability to move aging biological systems toward healthier functional states while accounting for treatment risks, intervention timing and irreversible damage.
The research was led by Aging Editorial Board member Alex Zhavoronkov, affiliated with Insilico Medicine and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.
Aging research has identified numerous biological processes that contribute to functional decline, including cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, epigenetic alterations and loss of proteostasis. Established frameworks, such as the Hallmarks of Aging and the hyperfunction theory developed by Mikhail Blagosklonny, have helped explain these changes. However, identifying aging-related mechanisms does not automatically determine how, when or whether they should be targeted therapeutically.
The authors propose addressing this challenge using control theory, a mathematical discipline concerned with directing dynamic systems toward desired states. Their framework introduces the concept of biological state space, representing an organism’s condition across multiple dimensions, including inflammation, mitochondrial function, epigenetic stability, immune competence and regenerative capacity. Rather than aiming to restore every molecular feature to a youthful state, the framework prioritizes maintaining or recovering acceptable physiological function.
Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/new-control-theory-framework-proposes-a-safer-approach-to-aging-drug-discovery
DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206422
Corresponding author - Alex Zhavoronkov - alex@insilicomedicine.com
Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXL5LMhQTVs
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Keywords - aging, control theory, biological age, drug discovery, gerotherapeutics
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