While disease is often attributed to anatomical changes, in many cases it is actually due to changes in cell signalling. Similarly, cell signalling systems may be largely responsible for degeneration associated with aging. Such processes are extremely complicated and are just beginning to be uncovered. But the good news is that simple interventions are remarkably effective at blocking these changes, said Dr Jesse Roth from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, US. Their place in treating age-associated diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, was discussed at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society meeting [Los Angeles, US; May 1994].