Is it possible to slow down the pace of aging?

Why does a mouse live for two years while an elephant lives for sixty, even though both animals consume the same amount of oxygen during their lifetime?

Why do some whales live for 200-300 years while salmons die immediately after they reproduce at two to eight years of age?

How do metabolic rates determine the lifespan of all organisms, and why are birds a clear exception?

Why do some humans age slowly and maintain their cognitive function while others go through accelerated physical and mental decline while aging?

"Is it possible to slow down the pace of aging?" This question will remain one of the most perplexing questions in the history of science

Aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline. Reaction time, for example, may slow with age, while knowledge of world events and wisdom may expand. Research shows that even late in life, potential exists for physical, mental, and social growth and development. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Roughly 100,000 people worldwide die each day of age-related causes.

Several drugs and food supplements have been shown to retard or reverse the biological effects of ageing in animal models; none has yet been proven to do so in humans.

Some resources about aging and how to prevent it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_life_span
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623120840.htm
http://www.senescence.info/aging_theories.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ageing
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995895/
http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-science-studio/mitochondria-and-aging
http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64125
http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/35673/title/Inhibit-Mitochondria-to-Live-Longer-/
http://www.zewailcity.edu.eg/research-institutes/hims/caad/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17908557
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7230/edsumm/e090205-11.html
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-intermittent-fasting-might-help-you-live-longer-healthier-life
http://www.anti-agingfirewalls.com/2012/01/14/alternate-day-fasting-%E2%80%93-a-better-alternative/