mTOR and the Age-Related Decline in Stem Cell Activity

As a companion piece to an earlier post on the relationship between the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) gene and cellular senescence in aging, you might take a look at the research here that investigates the relationship between mTOR and the characteristic decline in stem cell activity that occurs with advancing age. In addition to the large body of research focused on insulin and growth hormone metabolism, work on mTOR is among the most active areas of study resulting from investigations of calorie restriction. The practice of calorie restriction has been shown to slow aging in near all species and lineages studied to date, so insofar as the response to calorie restriction is partially mediated through mTOR, we should expect mTOR to have some connection to most of the causes of aging. Unfortunately, calorie restriction has only a small effect on life span in our species. The research community doesn't yet know exactly how small, but it would be very surprising for it to be greater than five years or so. It would be hard for an effect much larger than that to remain hidden over the length of human history. The health effects are worth it in all other respects; calorie restriction greatly reduces the risk of age-related disease in our species, just as in others. Why are the effects on longevity so much less in humans than in mice? The response to calorie restriction most likely evolved because it grants a greater chance of survival through seasonal famine. The fa...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs