Aging of the immune system involves functional changes in individual cell populations, in hematopoietic tissues and at the systemic level. They are mediated by factors produced by circulating cells, niche cells, and at the systemic level. Age-related alterations in the microenvironment of the bone marrow and thymus cause a decrease in the production of naive immune cells and functional immunodeficiencies. Another result of aging and reduced tissue immune surveillance is the accumulation of senescent cells. Some viral infections deplete adaptive immune cells, increasing the risk of autoimmune and immunodeficiency conditions, leading to a general degradation in the specificity and effectiveness of the immune system in old age.
A study resets the longevity discussion, after previous research focused on those born between 1870 and 1900, and shows genetics and environment play roughly equal roles.
A new study raises important questions about widely used NAD+ supplements, suggesting that compounds often taken to boost energy and support healthy aging may have unintended consequences in cancer treatment.
Cellular senescence drives aging and age-related dysfunction across multiple tissues, including the brain. Through a high-content, senescent cell-based phenotypic screen of a small panel of natural products, we identified tomatidine, an aglycone of tomatine found in tomatoes, as a previously unrecognized senotherapeutic agent. In senescent human brain microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts, tomatidine selectively suppressed SASP expression without affecting p16Ink4a or p21Cip1 levels consistent with a senomorphic effect. In aged mice, tomatidine reduced frailty and improved motor coordination and cognitive performance. These functional benefits were accompanied by reduced senescence markers (p16 Ink4a, p21 Cip1, and telomere-associated DNA damage foci) in liver, skin, and hippocampal neurons, along with decreased neuroinflammation and microglial activation. Tomatidine also diminished brain endothelial cell senescence while enhancing tight junction protein expression, suggesting preserved blood–brain barrier integrity. Together, these findings identify tomatidine as a promising senescence-targeting compound with beneficial effects in aged mice and support its further evaluation in mechanistic and translational studies.
Online now: Body-wide multi-omic counteraction of aging with GLP-1R agonism: (Cell Metabolism 37, 2362–2380.e1–e8; December 2, 2025)
Online now: (Cell Metabolism37, 2362–2380.e1–e8; December 2, 2025)
Following publication, Steve Horvath and colleagues at the Clock Foundation alerted us to a platemap error in the DNA methylation (DNAm) data. Our investigation pinpointed the potential source of this error. We provided samples on 96-well plates in a row-wise orientation instead of the column-wise orientation specified in the Clock Foundation’s protocol. Subsequently, incorrect assignment of metadata for 36 samples (out of 459) that contributed data to the paper likely occurred during the transposition and rearrangement of a subset of samples on two incompletely filled plates prior to the assay. Working with Clock Foundation colleagues, we have corrected the metadata for 33 samples and discarded 3 samples for which we could not retrieve the metadata with total certainty.
This error impacted DNAm data for the following tissues:
As part of the JCI’s Review Series on Neurodegeneration, Sonja W. Scholz and colleagues highlight key genomic technologies advancing diagnosis and research in neurodegeneration.
1Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke;
2Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; and.
3Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Researchers Soma Chiyoda, Ko Mochizuki, and Atsushi Kawakita from the University of Tokyo have discovered that nocturnal hawkmoths are the main pollinators of Jasminanthes mucronata, a plant species native to Japan that produces black nectar. This is the first time that a colored nectar flower has been confirmed to be mainly pollinated by nocturnal insects. The discovery thus promotes further research into this so far unexplored ecology. The findings were published in the journal Ecology.
In ancient Greek mythology, nectar was the drink of the gods, the key to their immortality. Real-life nectar might not confer immortality to its consumers, but it certainly helps many a creature stay alive by providing them with rich nutrition. The creatures feeding on these plants then unwittingly carry their pollen across the landscape. To draw a map of this complex web of co-existence, we must discern whether species interact with one another.
As nectar is generally transparent, flowers that produce colored nectar have garnered particular attention in the research community. However, due to the visual nature of colored nectar, researchers have focused mostly on daytime animals as potential pollinators.
Imagine treating back pain not with surgery, not with opioids—but by using your own stem cells to repair the damage at its source.
Lance Alstodt is President, CEO, and Chairman of BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. (https://biorestorative.com/), a publicly traded regenerative medicine company focused on developing stem cell-based therapies to treat highly prevalent conditions, including chronic lower back pain and metabolic disorders.
With more than 25 years of experience across healthcare investment banking, medical technology, and company building, Lance brings a unique perspective at the intersection of science and capital markets. Prior to joining BioRestorative, he was the founder and CEO of MedVest Consulting, advising healthcare companies on growth strategy, M&A, and capital formation.
Earlier in his career, Lance held senior leadership roles at firms including Leerink Partners, Oppenheimer & Co., Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he specialized in healthcare and medical technology transactions.
At BioRestorative, Lance is leading the development of innovative cell therapies such as BRTX-100, an autologous mesenchymal stem cell therapy currently in Phase 2 trials for chronic lumbar disc disease, aiming to offer a non-opioid, non-surgical solution to one of the most widespread causes of disability worldwide.
Today’s episode on Redefining Medicine features Ronald Klatz, MD, DO. As Founder and President of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and leading authority in the field of anti-aging, Dr. Klatz has helped pioneer the exploration of new therapies and treatments for the prevention of chronic disease, and other disorders associated with aging. Dr. Klatz has also been instrumental in founding the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and continues to provide oversight for continuing medical education programs, activities, and publications. #antiaging #regenerativemedicine #wellness #sportsmedicine #Innovation #wellness #functionalmedicine
