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Updated: Jul 29, 2025

Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging of Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue
Published on: October 7, 2014
Brown adipose tissue and aging: A potential role for exercise
Shinsuke Nirengi1, Kristin Stanford2
1Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Division of Preventive Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan.
Abstract:
Aging is one of the primary risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and regular physical activity can help to delay, prevent, or manage the onset and development of many chronic diseases present in older adults. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is thermogenic tissue that protects against age-related disease, but BAT activity decreases with age. In this review, we discuss how aging contributes to impaired BAT function by inducing a 'whitening' of the BAT and altering beta 3 adrenergic receptor (β3AR) signaling, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene expression, and mitochondria respiration, and potential mechanisms for exercise to counteract the effects of aging on BAT.
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