Why We Age: Macroautophagy
Every human cell can be seen as a tightly run metropolis. To keep things humming, it relies on macroautophagy, a process akin to a high-tech recycling system [1]. Here’s how it works: damaged proteins and organelles are wrapped in a double-membraned autophagosome structure. These sacs then join with lysosomes, which act like molecular incinerators. They […]
Short-Term Overeating Alters Brain Insulin Sensitivity
What can go wrong in five days? If you usually eat healthy and take care of your body, there’s no harm in letting your guard down for a while, right? Not so fast, says a new study by the University Hospital of Tübingen, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and Helmholtz Munich. This controlled […]
A Core Senescence Biomarker Fights Inflammation
One of the main reasons why cells become senescent is to prevent cancer. The senescence-inducing compound p53, in particular, is known in the literature as a tumor suppressor, and its presence has been found to reduce, rather than exacerbate, the SASP [1]. The biochemical reasons behind this seemingly contradictory connection have not been previously explained. […]
Heat May Speed Up Epigenetic Aging in Older Adults
Heat alters DNA While warm summer days on the beach are pleasant, extreme heat is not as enjoyable, especially in daily life. It is also not healthy, since extreme heat has been linked to cardiovascular diseases and death [2, 3]. DNA methylation is a biological process that is known to respond to stressors, such as […]
A Hypothalamus Neuropeptide Reduces Aging in a Mouse Model
An essential protein Age-related decline in the function of the hypothalamus, a core region of the brain, has been suggested to be a “key factor in the development of whole-body aging” [2]. Due to its essential role and implication in several aging-related processes, the hypothalamus may be a target for lifespan- and healthspan-extending therapeutic strategies. […]