Rewarding touch limits lifespan through neural to intestinal signaling

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Aging Research

Background:

• Sensory perception influences physiology and aging.
• Dietary restriction (DR) typically extends lifespan but can be counteracted by attractive food cues.
• Mechanisms linking sensory input to aging remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of touch sensation in modulating lifespan under dietary restriction.
• To identify the molecular and neural pathways involved in touch-mediated lifespan regulation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the model organism *Caenorhabditis elegans*.
• Applied tactile stimuli mimicking food and soil during dietary restriction.
• Investigated genetic requirements for mechanoreceptors, neurotransmitters, and neuropeptides.
• Analyzed the regulation of longevity effector genes DAF-2/IGF1R and FMO-2/FMO5.

Main Results:

• Tactile stimuli mimicking food or soil reduced lifespan in worms on dietary restriction.
• This lifespan modulation by touch requires specific mechanoreceptor proteins, dopamine, tyramine/adrenaline, INS-11, and GnRH.
• The touch circuit ultimately regulates the longevity pathways involving DAF-2/IGF1R and FMO-2/FMO5.

Conclusions:

• The sense of touch interacts with nutritional status to modulate lifespan in *C. elegans*.
• A physiological touch circuit connects neural reward pathways to growth and reproductive axes.
• Texture mechanosensation plays a role in regulating lifespan, highlighting touch as a significant sensory input for aging.