In this study, Martínez Corrales, Li and colleagues demonstrate that activation of the conserved pro-longevity transcription factor dFOXO solely in youth can trigger chromatin remodeling and transcriptional memory to curtail later-life mortality in female fruit flies. The cover image represents a female fly that survived to the very old age of 100 days owing to dFOXO activation.

See Martínez Corrales et al.

In this study, Ehrlich and colleagues analyse the population-based Longitudinal Ageing Study in India dataset to provide new prevalence estimates for vision impairment in India. They report that one in three older adults in India has distance visual impairment or is blind, which may impact not only how they see the world but also overall health and wellbeing. The cover image represents a view of the India subcontinent.

See Ehrlich et al.

In this issue, Lindbohm and colleagues provide several lines of analysis which suggest that autoimmunity is a modifiable component in dementia-causing diseases. The cover image illustrates immune cell activation and inflammation that weakens the blood–brain barrier (below), which allows infiltration of immune cells into the central nervous system (above).

See Lindbohm et al.

In this issue, Juricic, Lu, Leech and colleagues demonstrate that a brief exposure to rapamycin in early adulthood has the same geroprotective effects as lifelong treatment in fruit flies and mice. This long-lasting geroprotection from rapamycin is achieved by a persistent increase in intestinal autophagy. The cover shows a memory card game, highlighting the ‘memory effects’ of rapamycin on flies, mice, the gut and the autophagy machinery.

See Juricic et al.

In this issue, Lee and colleagues identify a new type of astrocyte present in the brain of old mice that is characterized by a distinct molecular signature, abnormal morphology and the accumulation of dysfunctional autophagosomes. On the left-hand side of the cover is a three-dimensional artistic rendition of one of these aging-associated autophagy-dysregulated astrocytes (APDAs), with shriveled and beaded processes, compared to a normal-looking astrocyte on the right-hand side.

See Lee et al. and the accompanying News & Views by Baumert, Brose and Eroglu

In this issue, Hajdarovic, Yu et al use single-nucleus sequencing of young and old mouse hypothalamus to better understand age-related changes in the female brain. They report that expression of the master regulator of X-chromosome inactivation, XIST, increases with age, pointing towards a role of X-chromosome inactivation in the aging female brain. The cover image shows nuclei forming an X chromosome.

See Hajdarovic et al.

In this issue, Schmid and colleagues demonstrate that the cellular clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria, via mitophagy, is compromised in the aging fruit fly brain. Genetic overexpression of neuronal BNIP3, a protein involved in the induction of mitophagy, was shown to delay systemic aging in the fruit flies. The cover illustrates engulfment of dysfunctional mitochondria in the brain for removal via mitophagy to promote healthy aging and depicts the fruit fly as the model organism.

See Schmid et al. and the accompanying News & Views by Lautrup and Fang

In this issue, Ribeiro et al. demonstrate that in vivo cyclic induction of a truncated version of the transcription factor FOXM1 extends lifespan and improves aging-related phenotypes of progeroid and physiologically aged mice. The issue cover illustrates the cyclic boost of FOXM1 levels and the rejuvenated appearance of an aged mouse.

See Ribeiro et. al

In this issue, a study by Luo et al. reports blood immune cell profiles of newborn babies, young adults, and old adults with or without frailty syndrome. Combining cell-surface protein antibody-barcoded sequencing with single-cell RNA and T cell receptor sequencing, the study reveals characteristics of immune cells in healthy old age and frailty. The issue cover features a drawing of people at different stages of life, from infancy to old age.

See Luo et. al and the accompanying News & Views by De Maeyer and Akbar

In this issue, an epidemiological study by Chen and colleagues looked at associations between plant-based dietary patterns and mortality risk in a large sample of older adults, aged 65 and above, in China. They found that not all categories of plant foods were associated with a decreased risk of mortality. Our cover image depicting wooden chopsticks holding a leafy green makes reference to East Asian culinary culture.

See Chen et al. and the accompanying Research Briefing

In this issue, Wang et al. investigate the response of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) to mitochondrial electron transport chain deficits and reactive oxygen species. They report that age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in MuSCs initiates stem cell–myofiber fusion by inducing the expression of the actin network re-organizing protein Scinderin. The issue cover shows an immunofluorescent image of myofibers in the process of regeneration following muscle damage.

See Wang et al.

In this issue, Horvath et al. report the development of several naked mole rat epigenetic clocks, based on epigenetic profiling of nearly 400 samples from 11 tissue types. Application of these clocks revealed that, despite their exceptional longevity and lack of phenotypic aging, naked mole rats do age epigenetically, yet the breeding queen ages more slowly than nonbreeders. The issue cover shows a queen naked mole rat emerging from a tunnel that leads into a burrow chamber.

See Horvath et al.