A Brake for the Aging Engine
In an engine running at full throttle, the pistons wear out over time. In a young body, that engine is the IGF-1 signaling pathway, which drives cells to grow and divide. But in old age, the same mechanism no longer repairs; it accelerates wear. It's like a gas pedal that should be eased off in old age. Scientists have long suspected that gently slowing this pathway in adults could extend healthy life.