Lung mitochondria.WIKIMEDIA, LOUISA HOWARDReducing mitochondrial output increases lifespan in mice and nematode worms, according to research published today (May 22) in Nature. Researchers found that reduced expression of a protein important for mitochondrial protein production triggered the mitochondrial stress response and increased lifespan in both mice and nematodes. A few known drugs affect this pathway, raising the possibility of designing longevity-enhancing therapies.
“It’s a provocative set of findings,” said Richard Miller, who studies the genetics of aging at the University of Michigan and was not involved in the research. Although previous work had indirectly suggested that changing mitochondrial function affected lifespan, “this is the first clear demonstration [that it] extends mouse lifespan,” Miller added.
It’s well known that mitochondria are linked to health. Some evidence suggests that inhibiting mitochondrial function can be harmful—as in the case of diabetes or obesity—but earlier data from nematodes and fruit flies also suggest a link to lifespan increase. The latest findings are a step toward untangling one of the current debates in the field—whether inhibiting mitochondrial function is detrimental or beneficial, said Pankaj Kapahi, who studies the genetics of aging at ...
