Dr. Meng Wang and her team at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that enhancing fatty acid signaling significantly improves the lifespan of C. elegans roundworms. By focusing on lysosomes, the researchers revealed a previously unknown role for these cellular structures in communicating information about the state of the cell. Specifically, they found that a fatty acid called dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid is released from lysosomes and triggers a cascade of cellular messaging that extends the lifespan of C. elegans.
Stanford University School of Medicine researchers developed a novel approach to estimating the biological age of various organs based on the levels of specific proteins present in an individual’s bloodstream. By analyzing proteomic data from nearly 5,000 proteins in over 1,400 healthy individuals aged 20 to 90, they identified distinct protein signatures associated with each organ system. These signatures can predict the biological age of organs such as the heart, lungs, immune system, kidneys, liver, muscles, pancreas, brain, vasculature, and intestines.