Modulating mTOR in aging and health

Area of Science:

• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Geroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Physiological responses to nutrient availability are critical in aging and disease.
• Conserved cellular signaling pathways link nutrient/hormone cues to cellular growth and maintenance.
• The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of aging across diverse organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the central role of mTOR signaling in aging and age-related diseases.
• To emphasize the therapeutic potential of targeting mTOR for human healthspan interventions.
• To review the conserved nature of mTOR in modulating aging from yeast to mammals.

Main Methods:

• Review of genetic and pharmacological studies on nutrient-sensing pathways.
• Analysis of conserved cellular signaling mechanisms.
• Examination of mTOR's role in aging and disease models.
• Consideration of clinically approved mTOR-targeting agents.

Main Results:

• Reduced mTOR activity consistently extends lifespan in various organisms, including rodents.
• mTOR signaling is implicated in a wide spectrum of human diseases.
• Pharmacological agents targeting mTOR are available for clinical use.

Conclusions:

• Modulating the mTOR pathway offers promising therapeutic strategies for human aging and disease.
• Understanding mTOR's role in nutrient sensing is key to developing interventions for healthspan.
• Targeting mTOR represents a significant avenue for geroscience research and clinical application.