How calorie reduction and fasting give healthy-aging benefits without harmful side effects
Mechanisms Specific to the Beneficial Effects of Dietary Restriction
This work looks for biological switches that let eating less or fasting improve healthy aging without causing growth, immune, or fertility problems, aiming to help adults who want those benefits without the harms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294954 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use tiny roundworms (C. elegans) and human cells in the lab to study how reduced food intake or fasting promotes longer, healthier life. They focus on cellular energy sensors called AMPK and mTORC1 and use genetic and molecular tools to change these pathways and observe which changes give benefits without the usual side effects. By comparing results in worms and human cell lines, the team aims to pinpoint specific molecular targets that could be mimicked by future drugs. The project is laboratory-based and does not involve asking patients to follow dietary restrictions as part of the research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults worried about aging or age-related diseases—and those who want the benefits of fasting or calorie restriction without strict dieting—would be the eventual candidates for therapies developed from this work.
Not a fit: Children, people with eating disorders, pregnant people, or those who require increased nutrition or strong immune/reproductive support are unlikely to benefit from fasting-mimicking therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to treatments that mimic the healthy-aging effects of calorie restriction or fasting without harming growth, immunity, or fertility.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have shown that calorie restriction and altering AMPK or mTOR pathways can extend lifespan, but those approaches often cause harmful side effects, and the specific idea of separating benefits from harms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mair, William B — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Mair, William B
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.