Studies of the causes of ageing are often obscured by the complexity of this phenomenon, hindering investigations in this area. In particular, the variable characteristics of ageing complicate analysis at a molecular level. It is proposed that to gain insight into ageing, the problem must first be simplified by restricting studies to an aspect of the ageing processes. It is suggested that progeria, which presents a less complicated etiology and phenotype than other accelerated ageing diseases, allows research to focus on a regulation site involved in development and ageing.