Impacts of metformin and aspirin on life history features and longevity of crickets: trade-offs versus cost-free life extension?

Mitophagy-promoting agents and their ability to promote healthy-aging

The removal of damaged mitochondrial components through a process called mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is essential for the proper function of the mitochondrial network. Hence, mitophagy is vital for the health of all aerobic animals, including humans. Unfortunately, mitophagy declines with age. Many age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, are characterized by the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and oxidative damage. Therefore, activating the mitophagy process with small molecules is an emerging strategy for treating multiple aging diseases. Recent studies have identified natural and synthetic compounds that promote mitophagy and lifespan. This article aims to summarize the existing knowledge about these substances. For readers' convenience, the knowledge is presented in a table that indicates the chemical data of each substance and its effect on lifespan. The impact on healthspan and the molecular mechanism is reported if known. The article explores the potential of utilizing a combination of mitophagy-inducing drugs within a therapeutic framework and addresses the associated challenges of this strategy. Finally, we discuss the process that balances mitophagy, i.e. mitochondrial biogenesis. In this process, new mitochondrial components are generated to replace the ones cleared by mitophagy. Furthermore, some mitophagy-inducing substances activate biogenesis (e.g. resveratrol and metformin). Finally, we discuss the possibility of combining mitophagy and biogenesis enhancers for future treatment. In conclusion, this article provides an up-to-date source of information about natural and synthetic substances that activate mitophagy and, hopefully, stimulates new hypotheses and studies that promote healthy human aging worldwide.

Targeting cellular senescence with senotherapeutics: senolytics and senomorphics

The concept of geroscience is that since ageing is the greatest risk factor for many diseases and conditions, targeting the ageing process itself will have the greatest impact on human health. Of the hallmarks of ageing, cellular senescence has emerged as a druggable therapeutic target for extending healthspan in model organisms. Cellular senescence is a cell state of irreversible proliferative arrest driven by different types of stress, including oncogene-induced stress. Many senescent cells (SnCs) develop a senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) comprising pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, proteases, bioactive lipids, inhibitory molecules, extracellular vesicles, metabolites, lipids and other factors, able to promote chronic inflammation and tissue dysfunction. SnCs up-regulate senescent cell anti-apoptotic pathways (SCAPs) that prevent them from dying despite the accumulation of damage to DNA and other organelles. These SCAPs and other pathways altered in SnCs represent therapeutic targets for the development of senotherapeutic drugs that induce selective cell death of SnCs, specifically termed senolytics or suppress markers of senescence, in particular the SASP, termed senomorphics. Here, we review the current state of the development of senolytics and senomorphics for the treatment of age-related diseases and disorders and extension of healthy longevity. In addition, the challenges of documenting senolytic and senomorphic activity in pre-clinical models and the current state of the clinical application of the different senotherapeutics will be discussed.

Compound combinations targeting longevity: Challenges and perspectives

Aging is one of the world's greatest concerns, requiring urgent, effective, large-scale interventions to decrease the number of late-life chronic diseases and improve human healthspan. Anti-aging drug therapy is one of the most promising strategies to combat the effects of aging. However, most geroprotective compounds are known to successfully affect only a few aging-related targets. Given this, there is a great biological rationale for the use of combinations of anti-aging interventions. In this review, we characterize the various types of compound combinations used to modulate lifespan, discuss the existing evidence on their role in life extension, and present some key points about current challenges and future prospects for the development of combination drug anti-aging therapy.

We are all aging, and here's why

Here, through this review, we aim to serve this purpose by first discussing the statistics and aging demographics, including the life expectancy of the world and India, along with the gender life expectancy gap observed throughout the world, followed by explaining the hallmarks and integral causes of aging, along with the role played by senescent cells in controlling inflammation and the effect of senescence associated secretory phenotype on longevity. A few of the molecular pathways which are crucial in modulating the process of aging, such as the nutrient-sensing mTOR pathway, insulin signaling, Nrf2, FOXO, PI3-Akt, Sirtuins, and AMPK, and their effects are also covered in paramount detail. A diverse number of ingenious research methodologies are used in the modern era of longevity exploration. We have attempted to cover these methods under the umbrella of three broad categories: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico techniques. The drugs developed to attenuate the aging process, such as rapamycin, metformin, resveratrol, etc. and their interactions with the above-mentioned molecular pathways along with their toxicity have also been reviewed in detail.

Combined Effects of Methoprene and Metformin on Reproduction, Longevity, and Stress Resistance in Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae): Implications for the Sterile Insect Technique

Survival and mating success are traits of quality in mass-reared sterile males. Thus, studying the trade-offs between these traits may help to improve process in the sterile insect technique (SIT). Here, we tested the hypothesis that modifying individual metabolism, especially of energetic reserves, may reduce the negative impact of an early reproduction on the survival of Anastrepha ludens flies. Appling metformin (a drug used to treat type II diabetes) that improves insects' survival, through dietary restriction mimicry, and methoprene (a juvenile hormone analogue) that accelerates the age to reproduction in insects, we explore the dynamic of this trade-off. We fed A. ludens flies with metformin, methoprene, or a mixture of metformin-methoprene for five consecutive days. We determined the effect of these treatments on the fecundity and fertility (number of eggs and percentage of hatching) of females, on sexual maturation and mating success of males, and on the survival of both sexes. The results showed that the acceleration in sexual maturation by the action of methoprene significantly reduced survival in both sexes of two different fly strains. However, adding metformin to the diet buffered this negative effect, without reducing the mating propensity compared with the males treated only with methoprene. The response to metformin was sex-specific since females responded to high doses of the substance, whereas males responded better to low doses. These results suggest that trade-offs between survival and reproduction do not necessarily depend on energy reserves but they are intrinsically related to metabolic regulation and hormonal control.

Metformin as a geroprotector: experimental and clinical evidence

Apart from being a safe, effective and globally affordable glucose-lowering agent for the treatment of diabetes, metformin has earned much credit in recent years as a potential anti-aging formula. It has been shown to significantly increase lifespan and delay the onset of age-associated decline in several experimental models. The current review summarizes advances in clinical research on the potential role of metformin in the field of geroprotection, highlighting findings from pre-clinical studies on known and putative mechanisms behind its beneficial properties. A growing body of evidence from clinical trials demonstrates that metformin can effectively reduce the risk of many age-related diseases and conditions, including cardiometabolic disorders, neurodegeneration, cancer, chronic inflammation, and frailty. Metformin also holds promise as a drug that could be repurposed for chemoprevention or adjuvant therapy for certain cancer types. Moreover, due to the ability of metformin to induce autophagy by activation of AMPK, it is regarded as a potential hormesis-inducing agent with healthspan-promoting and pro-longevity properties. Long-term intake of metformin is associated with low risk of adverse events; however, well-designed clinical trials are still warranted to enable potential use of this therapeutic agent as a geroprotector.

Hormetic Effects of Early Juvenile Radiation Exposure on Adult Reproduction and Offspring Performance in the Cricket (Acheta domesticus)

Exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation can have positive impacts on biological performance—a concept known as hormesis. Although radiation hormesis is well-documented, the predominant focus has been medical. In comparison, little research has examined potential effects of early life radiation stress on organismal investment in life history traits that closely influence evolutionary fitness (eg, patterns of growth, survival, and reproduction). Evaluating the fitness consequences of radiation stress is important, given that low-level radiation pollution from anthropogenic sources is considered a major threat to natural ecosystems. Using the cricket (Acheta domesticus), we tested a wide range of doses to assess whether a single juvenile exposure to radiation could induce hormetic benefits on lifetime fitness measures. Consistent with hormesis, we found that low-dose juvenile radiation positively impacted female fecundity, offspring size, and offspring performance. Remarkably, even a single low dose of radiation in early juvenile development can elicit a range of positive fitness effects emerging over the life span and even into the next generation.

Pharmacological Strategies to Retard Cardiovascular Aging

Aging is the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in the United States. Traditionally, the effort to prevent cardiovascular disease has been focused on addressing the conventional risk factors, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and high circulating levels of triglycerides. However, recent preclinical studies have identified new approaches to combat cardiovascular disease. Calorie restriction has been reproducibly shown to prolong lifespan in various experimental model animals. This has led to the development of calorie restriction mimetics and other pharmacological interventions capable to delay age-related diseases. In this review, we will address the mechanistic effects of aging per se on the cardiovascular system and focus on the prolongevity benefits of various therapeutic strategies that support cardiovascular health.

Finding Ponce de Leon's Pill: Challenges in Screening for Anti-Aging Molecules

Aging is characterized by the progressive accumulation of degenerative changes, culminating in impaired function and increased probability of death. It is the major risk factor for many human pathologies - including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases - and consequently exerts an enormous social and economic toll. The major goal of aging research is to develop interventions that can delay the onset of multiple age-related diseases and prolong healthy lifespan (healthspan). The observation that enhanced longevity and health can be achieved in model organisms by dietary restriction or simple genetic manipulations has prompted the hunt for chemical compounds that can increase lifespan. Most of the pathways that modulate the rate of aging in mammals have homologs in yeast, flies, and worms, suggesting that initial screening to identify such pharmacological interventions may be possible using invertebrate models. In recent years, several compounds have been identified that can extend lifespan in invertebrates, and even in rodents. Here, we summarize the strategies employed, and the progress made, in identifying compounds capable of extending lifespan in organisms ranging from invertebrates to mice and discuss the formidable challenges in translating this work to human therapies.

Repurposing metformin: an old drug with new tricks in its binding pockets

Improvements in healthcare and nutrition have generated remarkable increases in life expectancy worldwide. This is one of the greatest achievements of the modern world yet it also presents a grave challenge: as more people survive into later life, more also experience the diseases of old age, including type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Developing new ways to improve health in the elderly is therefore a top priority for biomedical research. Although our understanding of the molecular basis of these morbidities has advanced rapidly, effective novel treatments are still lacking. Alternative drug development strategies are now being explored, such as the repurposing of existing drugs used to treat other diseases. This can save a considerable amount of time and money since the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety profiles of these drugs are already established, effectively enabling preclinical studies to be bypassed. Metformin is one such drug currently being investigated for novel applications. The present review provides a thorough and detailed account of our current understanding of the molecular pharmacology and signalling mechanisms underlying biguanide-protein interactions. It also focuses on the key role of the microbiota in regulating age-associated morbidities and a potential role for metformin to modulate its function. Research in this area holds the key to solving many of the mysteries of our current understanding of drug action and concerted effects to provide sustained and long-life health.