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LONGEVITY

Food odors decrease longevity via a brain–gut axis

Nature Aging volume 1, pages 237–238 (2021)Cite this article

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Zhang et al. describe a neural circuit that reduces lifespan when food-restricted worms smell food. This circuit signals the intestine via octopamine, the invertebrate homolog of norepinephrine, to activate AMPKα. Importantly, norepinephrine signaling also activates AMPKα in mammalian cells, suggesting a conserved mechanism.

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Fig. 1: Neuronal and intestinal pathways involved in the suppression of dietary-restriction-mediated longevity by food odors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Kaiden H. Price & Michael N. Nitabach

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  1. Kaiden H. Price
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  2. Michael N. Nitabach
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Correspondence to Michael N. Nitabach.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Price, K.H., Nitabach, M.N. Food odors decrease longevity via a brain–gut axis. Nat Aging 1, 237–238 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00047-1

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