Live slower and longer
Last updated
Last updated
Metabolic Pathways The SIRT, AMPk, and mTOR pathways are important for regulating cellular metabolism and are related to aging. Here, I will explain each of these pathways and how they relate to aging:
SIRT pathway: Sirtuins are a family of proteins that act as histone deacetylases and regulate gene expression. These proteins are involved in the cellular response to stress and in the regulation of cellular processes such as apoptosis, inflammation, and DNA repair. Regarding aging, sirtuins have been shown to prolong cell lifespan and delay aging in various organisms, including mice and nematodes. In addition, activating sirtuins can improve resistance to obesity, diabetes, and other age-related diseases.
AMPk pathway: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPk) is an enzyme that acts as an energy sensor in the cell. When ATP levels are low, AMPk is activated and promotes energy production through stimulation of glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, AMPk activation can delay aging and prevent age-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It is believed that this is because AMPk can improve mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress.
mTOR pathway: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an enzyme that regulates cell growth and proliferation. Activation of the mTOR pathway promotes protein synthesis and cell proliferation but has also been linked to aging and age-related diseases. Inhibition of the mTOR pathway has been shown to prolong lifespan in animal models such as mice and fruit flies. Furthermore, inhibition of the mTOR pathway can prevent age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
In summary, the SIRT, AMPk, and mTOR pathways are related to aging and may be therapeutic targets for preventing or delaying age-related diseases. Activation of the SIRT and AMPk pathways and inhibition of the mTOR pathway can be useful strategies for promoting healthy aging.
The SIRT, AMPk, and mTOR pathways are important for regulating cellular metabolism and are related to aging. Activating the SIRT and AMPk pathways and inhibiting the mTOR pathway can be useful strategies for promoting healthy aging.
Both calorie restriction and exercise have been demonstrated as effective strategies for activating the SIRT and AMPk pathways and reducing mTOR activity.
Calorie restriction has been shown to prolong lifespan in a variety of organisms and is believed to act through the activation of the SIRT and AMPk pathways. Additionally, calorie restriction has been shown to increase sirtuin expression and decrease mTOR activity, which has been linked to healthy aging and prevention of age-related diseases.
Exercise has also been shown to be effective in activating the SIRT and AMPk pathways and reducing mTOR activity. Furthermore, exercise has been demonstrated to increase sirtuin expression and decrease mTOR activity, which has been linked to healthy aging and prevention of age-related diseases.
Currently, there are several drugs being investigated for their use in anti-aging therapies, and many of them focus on affecting the SIRT, AMPk, and mTOR pathways. Some examples are:
Resveratrol: A compound found in grape skin and other foods, which has been shown to activate the SIRT pathway and improve resistance to obesity and diabetes in mice.
Metformin: A drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, which has been shown to activate the AMPk pathway and delay aging in several animal models.
Rapamycin: A drug used to prevent organ transplant rejection, which has been shown to inhibit the mTOR pathway and prolong lifespan in several animal models.
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide): A compound found in all living cells, which has been shown to activate the SIRT pathway and improve mitochondrial function in animal models.
Dasatinib and quercetin: A combination of two drugs that has been shown to reduce cellular senescence and improve health in animal models.
It is important to note that most of these drugs are still in the research phase and are not approved for use in anti-aging therapies in humans. In addition, some of them may have unwanted side effects, and further research is needed to fully understand their safety and efficacy in humans.
López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2013). The hallmarks of aging. Cell, 153(6), 1194-1217. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039
Fontana, L., & Partridge, L. (2015). Promoting health and longevity through diet: from model organisms to humans. Cell, 161(1), 106-118. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.020
Longo, V. D., & Mattson, M. P. (2014). Fasting: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Cell metabolism, 19(2), 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.12.008
Sinclair, D. A., & Rabinovitch, P. S. (2013). NAD and aging. Annual review of biochemistry, 82, 19-42. doi: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-060713-035423
Mitchell, S. J., Bernier, M., Aon, M. A., Cortassa, S., Kim, E. Y., Fang, E. F., ... & de Cabo, R. (2019). Some aspects of mitochondrial bioenergetics—a critical discussion. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics, 1860(10), 729-733. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.06.002
Johnson, S. C., & Rabinovitch, P. S. (2019). Metabolic and epigenetic regulation of aging. The Journal of clinical investigation, 129(10), 4052-4060. doi: 10.1172/JCI129711
Kennedy, B. K., Berger, S. L., Brunet, A., Campisi, J., Cuervo, A. M., Epel, E. S., ... & Lithgow, G. J. (2014). Geroscience: linking aging to chronic disease. Cell, 159(4), 709-713. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.039
Baur, J. A., & Sinclair, D. A. (2006). Therapeutic potential of resveratrol: the in vivo evidence. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 5(6), 493-506. doi: 10.1038/nrd2060
Barzilai, N., Crandall, J. P., Kritchevsky, S. B., & Espeland, M. A. (2016). Metformin as a tool to target aging. Cell Metabolism, 23(6), 1060-1065. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.05.011
Lamming, D. W., Ye, L., Katajisto, P., & Goncalves, M. D. (2012). SIRT3 controls mitochondrial protein acetylation and intermediary metabolism. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology, 76, 267-277. doi: 10.1101/sqb.2012.76.010769