A cellular process where damaged components are recycled, playing a key role in cellular health and longevity.
FULL EXPLANATION
Autophagy (from Greek meaning "self-eating") is a cellular housekeeping process where cells break down and recycle damaged proteins, organelles, and other cellular debris. It's essential for maintaining cellular health and function.
Autophagy is triggered by fasting, exercise, and certain compounds. It declines with age, potentially contributing to the accumulation of cellular damage. Enhancing autophagy is a major focus of longevity research.
WHY IT MATTERS
Autophagy clears damaged cellular components, reduces inflammation, and may help prevent cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. It's considered a key longevity mechanism.
HOW TO IMPROVE
Stimulate autophagy through extended fasting (16+ hours), exercise, coffee and green tea consumption, caloric restriction, and compounds like spermidine and resveratrol.
NORMAL RANGES
Autophagy is difficult to measure directly in humans. Fasting insulin, inflammatory markers, and other biomarkers may reflect autophagy activity indirectly.
RELATED TERMS
mTOR
A cellular signaling pathway that regulates growth and metabolism, with implications for aging and disease.
Senescent Cells
Cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active, secreting inflammatory factors that contribute to aging.
NAD+
A coenzyme essential for cellular energy production that declines with age, involved in DNA repair and longevity pathways.
Time-Restricted Eating
An eating pattern where food consumption is limited to a specific time window each day, typically 8-12 hours.
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mTOR
Emerging ResearchA cellular signaling pathway that regulates growth and metabolism, with implications for aging and disease.
Senescent Cells
Emerging ResearchCells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active, secreting inflammatory factors that contribute to aging.