Scientists discover a key cellular driver of aging and longevity
Published in Diseases!.
New research shows that aging cells actively reorganize the endoplasmic reticulum through a recycling process called ER-phagy, reshaping metabolism and influencing lifespan, which may help explain how aging drives chronic disease.
The new study reveals how aging cells reshape internal architecture, uncovering ER-phagy as a promising target for healthier longevity worldwide
Living longer no longer guarantees living well. While medical and public health advances have extended human lifespan, aging still brings a steep rise in chronic illnesses, from neurodegenerative conditions to metabolic disorders. A new line of cellular research suggests that the roots of these diseases may lie not just in damaged molecules, but in how cells reorganize themselves over time.
At the center of this effort is Kris Burkewitz, assistant professor of cell and developmental biology at Vanderbilt University, whose laboratory is exploring whether aging and disease must go hand in hand. His group studies how cells arrange their internal structures—known as organelles—and how these layouts shape metabolism, function, and long-term health.