This makes you age 20% faster: why?

The excess of nutrients in cells may well be one of the key factors in premature aging. A new study by researchers at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) reveals that this overabundance provokes inflammation and organ dysfunction, thereby accelerating the aging process. This discovery paves the way for potential therapeutic interventions.


mTOR proteins, regulators of cellular metabolism, play a crucial role. A slight increase in their activity could reduce longevity by 20% in animals, according to a study published in Nature Aging. This explains why age-related diseases are exacerbated in obese individuals and why calorie restriction can prolong life by activating certain genes.

An innovative tool to study the relationship between nutrient increase and organ aging has been introduced. Alejo Efeyan, the lead author, highlights the importance of this tool in better understanding these complex mechanisms.

Researchers manipulated mTOR activity in animals to simulate overconsumption of food. Although their diet did not change, the animals showed signs of premature aging, with thinner skin and damaged organs. Immune cells, attempting to repair the damage, trigger inflammation that worsens the issues, reducing their life expectancy.

Inhibiting this inflammatory immune response could improve organ health and extend human life by several years. Ana Ortega-Molina mentions that targeting chronic inflammation could be a potential therapeutic measure to control health deterioration.

The study revealed that the activity of lysosomes, which are essential for recycling cellular waste, decreases in both genetically modified animals and those naturally aging.

The results obtained in animals were also observed in humans. To verify this correlation, researchers from the University of Valencia conducted blood analyses on young individuals and septuagenarians. By comparing these two groups, they found a decrease in lysosomal activity with age, confirming that this mechanism is similar in animals and humans. This reinforces the idea that nutrient increase and aging affect cellular function similarly across different species.

This research tool offers prospects for exploring the link between nutrient increase and neurodegenerative diseases, for instance. It can be used by other researchers to deepen the understanding of aging.