The Fourth Annual Symposium of the Midwest Aging Consortium

Area of Science:

• Geroscience
• Aging Biology
• Gerontology

Background:

• The Midwest Aging Consortium (MAC), established in 2019, is a collaborative initiative focused on understanding aging and mitigating age-related diseases.
• MAC unites researchers from diverse disciplines and institutions across the Midwestern United States to promote interdisciplinary geroscience research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize key findings and research directions presented at the Fourth Annual Symposium of the Midwest Aging Consortium (MAC).
• To showcase advancements in aging biology and the consortium's role in fostering collaborative research and training future scientists.

Main Methods:

• Presentations covered a broad spectrum of aging research topics, including cellular senescence, immunosenescence, metabolic aging, and neurodegeneration.
• Studies utilized a wide range of animal models, from common species (mice, yeast, fruit flies) to unique ones (naked mole-rats, painted turtles, rotifers).

Main Results:

• Research explored cellular senescence and potential senotherapeutic interventions.
• Studies investigated the impact of immune system changes, metabolic shifts, and neuronal health on the aging process.
• Biomarkers for assessing aging were discussed, alongside findings from diverse animal models exhibiting varied aging rates.

Conclusions:

• The symposium underscored the interdisciplinary nature of aging research and the importance of diverse model systems.
• MAC is actively contributing to the understanding of aging mechanisms and the development of strategies to enhance healthspan.
• The consortium plays a vital role in nurturing emerging researchers dedicated to improving the well-being of the aging population.