Long-term effects of two years of calorie restriction on aging and health
Legacy Effects of CALERIE, a 2-year Calorie Restriction Intervention, on Hallmarks of Healthspan and Aging
This project looks at whether people who followed two years of modest calorie restriction in early-to-mid adulthood still show slower biological aging and better health 10–15 years later.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Boston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320714 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This is an observational follow-up of participants from the CALERIE trial, comparing those who completed a two-year calorie restriction program with the original control group and a matched community cohort. Researchers will collect biological samples and measures of physical function, clinical markers, and quality of life 10–15 years after the original intervention. They will analyze cellular and molecular hallmarks of aging alongside phenotypic and functional tests to see if earlier calorie restriction produced lasting benefits. The study combines clinical visits, lab assays, and comparisons to long-running cohort data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults who participated in the original CALERIE trial (both the two-year calorie restriction group and the ad libitum control) or similar-aged community volunteers matched to the study cohort.
Not a fit: People who were never part of the CALERIE cohort, those who are medically unable to consider calorie restriction, or those seeking immediate clinical treatments rather than long-term aging research are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show that modest calorie restriction earlier in adulthood produces lasting slower aging and improved health decades later.
How similar studies have performed: The original CALERIE trial showed improved health markers and slower biological aging during the two-year intervention, but whether those benefits last 10–15 years is not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Tufts University Boston — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Das, Sai Krupa — Tufts University Boston
- Study coordinator: Das, Sai Krupa
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.