Although it is still not clear how and why protein aggregation occurs, it seems that altered protein synthesis, folding, repair and degradation, commonly referred as protein homeostasis, play a central role in this process. Protein aggregation has been considered a common hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases and is also associated with normal ageing. A decline in proteome quality results in the accumulation of misfolded proteins that tend to aggregate in soluble or insoluble entities and has a negative impact on cell physiology. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying ageing and age-related diseases is the best strategy to design therapies and interventions to effectively decrease ageing and age-related morbidity and mortality.
