News

A Micropeptide that Inhibits Vascular Calcification via PKM2 Degradation

The vascular system is prone to calcification with advancing age. Cells in the vasculature inappropriately take on the features and behavior of the osteoblast cells responsible for building bone extracellular matrix. These errant vascular cells deposit calcium phosphate structures into vascular tissue, stiffening it. Calcification proceeds in parallel with atherosclerosis, the thickening of artery walls and generation of fatty plaques that obstruct vessels and ultimately rupture to cause a heart attack or stroke, but is an independent process that would cause dysfunction and mortality even if the causative mechanisms of atherosclerosis were eliminated. Stiffening of vascular walls, however it occurs, whether by this process, other forms of damage and change in the extracellular matrix, or loss of responsiveness to cues for contraction and dilation in […]

Scientists find 10 different diets linked to slower aging

A study by DZNE finds that healthy eating is associated with slower biological aging—and that there is more than one way to eat healthily. The researchers examined ten dietary patterns considered healthy, including the Mediterranean, Nordic, and a plant-based diet, as well as the DASH diet, which is designed to help lower blood pressure. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

Heart pill cuts inflammation markers in early trial

Monte Rosa’s NEK7-targeting drug pulled several heart-risk biomarkers toward healthy levels in 108 people with obesity. Think of NLRP3 as a fire alarm wired into your immune cells. When it trips, cells burst open and spill out a cocktail of inflammatory signals. That response is handy during an infection. In the walls of diseased arteries, […] The post Heart pill cuts inflammation markers in early trial appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

The ipsilesional DTI-ALPS index provides modest incremental prognostic value beyond clinical models for 90-day outcome in patients with acute MCA occlusion treated with intravenous thrombolysis: a prospective exploratory cohort study

Background and purposeImpaired perivascular fluid dynamics may contribute to secondary brain injury after acute ischemic stroke, yet its prognostic relevance remains uncertain. We investigated whether the Diffusion Tensor Image Analysis along the Perivascular Space (ALPS) index—a quantitative MRI marker of perivascular fluid dynamics—provides incremental predictive value for long-term functional outcomes in patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) treated with intravenous thrombolysis.MethodsIn this prospective observational cohort study, 128 patients underwent multimodal brain MRI within 24 h of admission, and the ALPS index was calculated in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the occlusion (ipsilesional ALPS). Favorable outcome at 90 days was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors, with covariates (a

Hypertensive stress rewires macrophage signaling in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction independent of obesity

The Hallmarks of Aging as Applied to the Vasculature Specifically

Humanity is poorly supported by its vasculature. Vascular aging is the primary cause of human mortality, giving rise to atherosclerosis, the formation of fatty plaques that narrow vessels and eventually rupture to produce a fatal blockage and thus a heart attack or stroke. The quality of the vasculature suffers in other ways along the road to old age: vessels become leaky where they should not be, allowing the passage of disruptive cells and molecules into tissues; the network of capillaries becomes less dense, reducing delivery of necessary nutrients into tissues; the smooth muscle surrounding vessels becomes less capable of constriction and relaxation, leading to a range of issues relating to blood pressure and pulsatile flow; and so forth. One can find dozens of scientific papers […]

Variant Bio extends AI genetics deal to the heart

Boehringer Ingelheim widens its kidney-disease partnership to cardiovascular targets, in a deal that could exceed $250 million. Some people seem to have gotten lucky with their genes. They stay healthy in situations where others don’t, and drug hunters have long wondered what their DNA might be telling us. Variant Bio has built a company around […] The post Variant Bio extends AI genetics deal to the heart appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Function, Google partner to connect habits with body data

Function and Google Health announced a partnership to integrate Function’s lab testing and Medical Intelligence with Google Health guidance and Google wearables. The partnership will let US users share Function lab results into the Google Health app later this fall and aims to combine wearable signals such as resting heart rate, sleep patterns, heart rate […] The post Function, Google partner to connect habits with body data appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Fight Aging! Newsletter, October 12th 2026

Fight Aging! publishes news and commentary relevant to the goal of ending all age-related disease, to be achieved by bringing the mechanisms of aging under the control of modern medicine. This weekly newsletter is sent to thousands of interested subscribers. To subscribe to the newsletter, please visit: https://www.fightaging.org/newsletter/. To unsubscribe, send email or reply to this email at newsletter@fightaging.org with "unsubscribe" in the subject or body. Longevity Industry Consulting Services Reason, the founder of Fight Aging! and Repair Biotechnologies, offers strategic consulting services to investors, entrepreneurs, and others interested in the longevity industry and its complexities. To find out more: https://www.fightaging.org/services/ Contents Fat Infiltration into Muscle Tissue as a Biomarker of Aging Reduced Cardiolipin Levels as a Cause of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and

Gut Bacteria Molecule Slows Atherosclerosis in Mice

A new study highlights a fatty acid produced by a particular genus of bacteria as a “natural statin,” suggesting a new way of treating atherosclerosis [1]. Bacteria and cholesterol Atherosclerosis develops when cholesterol-rich particles […]

Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen weiterhin häufigste Todesursache

Wiesbaden – Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen bleiben die häufigste Todesursache in Deutschland. Die Zahl der Menschen, die 2025 daran starben, nahm im Vorjahresvergleich aber um 1,5 Prozent auf 334.100 ab, wie das Statistische Bundesamt mitteilte. Im Vergleich zum Jahr 2022 betrug der Rückgang sogar 6,7 Prozent. Deutliche Rückgänge gab es in dem Zeitraum...[weiter lesen]

Succinate Dehydrogenase as a Regulator of the Regenerative Capacity of the Heart

The tissues of the mammalian body span a broad range of regenerative capacity, from the highly regenerative liver to the minimal regenerative capabilities of the brain and the heart. We might speculate that the evolutionary road to a reduced capability of regeneration in the central nervous system results need to retain structure that stores memory. The heart incorporates a complex electrical system, and the need to retain the structure of this system may also place constraints on the level of regeneration that can take place following injury. Heart damage, such as that resulting from a heart attack and consequent transient loss of blood supply to regions of the heart, heals poorly, and is typically characterized by fibrosis that is disruptive to heart tissue structure and […]

Reduced Cardiolipin Levels as a Cause of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Muscle Remodeling

Hundreds of mitochondria in every cell work to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a chemical energy store molecule needed to power cell activities. Mitochondria evolved from symbiotic bacteria, and are now fully integrated as components of the cell, with much of their original DNA moved into the cell nucleus. Mitochondria become dysfunctional with age, reducing their production of ATP, increasing oxidative byproducts, and causing maladaptive inflammatory reactions. This is an important contribution to the disruption of cell and tissue function that takes place in aged tissues. Unfortunately, mitochondrial dysfunction, while well established and readily measured, is also enormously complex and incompletely understood. Many different contributing mechanisms are plausible, but it is a challenge to determine which of them are more or less important than the others. […]

Mito adds a $249 heart scan. Who needs one?

Mito now offers a coronary artery calcium scan without a referral. Here’s what it shows, what it costs and what a zero doesn’t promise. The main thing a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan asks of you is to hold your breath for a few seconds at a time. There are no needles and no contrast […] The post Mito adds a $249 heart scan. Who needs one? appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk is associated with AT(N)V neuroimaging biomarkers and cognitive impairment in the health and aging brain study–health disparities cohort

BackgroundCardiovascular risk is increasingly recognized as relevant to cognitive aging and dementia-related brain changes, yet its relationship to multimodal neuroimaging biomarkers of amyloid, tau, neurodegeneration, and vascular injury (AT(N)-V) remains incompletely understood in racially and ethnically diverse cohorts. We examined whether ten-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk was associated with AT(N)-V neuroimaging biomarkers and cognitive domain scores.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 1,626 Health and Aging Brain Study–Health Disparities (HABS-HD) participants without cardiovascular disease or dementia who had amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) imaging linked to visit 1. Ten-year ASCVD risk was estimated using the Pooled Cohort Equations and modeled continuously. Neuroimaging outcomes included global florbetaben amyloid PET standardized upta

Monte Rosa reports positive early results for new heart inflammation drug

Monte Rosa Therapeutics reported positive Phase 1 GFORCE-1 results for MRT-8102 in 108 obese subjects with elevated cardiovascular risk randomized to once-daily 5 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg doses or placebo for four weeks, with four weeks of follow-up. According to the company, MRT-8102 produced robust and sustained NEK7 degradation with a median reduction […] The post Monte Rosa reports positive early results for new heart inflammation drug appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Associations between inflammatory-lipid indices and clinical outcomes in ischemic stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy

PurposeInflammation and dyslipidemia are critical in post-stroke prognosis. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of six common inflammatory-lipid indices to evaluate the associations between these indices and four clinical outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and to identify generalizable consistently associated markers for all four clinical outcomes.MethodsIn this retrospective studyassociations between inflammatory-lipid indices, namely monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR), platelet-to-HDL-C ratio (PHR), neutrophil-to-HDL-C (NHR), lymphocyte-to-HDL-C ratio (LHR), fibrinogen-to-HDL-C ratio (FHR), and C-reactive protein-to-HDL-C ratio (CRP/HDL-C), and four post-MT clinical outcomes comprised hemorrhagic transformation (HT), malignant cerebral edema (MCE) 90-day unfavorable outcome and all-cause mortality were evaluated usin

1 in 13 adults under 30 already had hidden artery plaque

More than half of 16,000 apparently healthy adults had signs of atherosclerosis, with arterial plaques already detectable in about 1 in 13 people ages 18 to 29. Researchers say directly imaging the arteries could reveal hidden cardiovascular disease years or even decades before symptoms appear.

APOEε2 Pericytes Provide a More Resilient Blood-Brain Barrier

Why is the APOEε2 variant of the APOE gene associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and slightly longer life expectancy? Past research has investigated the role of APOE in cholesterol metabolism and inflammation in microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain implicated in neurodegenerative conditions. Here, researchers focus instead on pericytes and their role in maintaining the blood-brain barrier. The barrier prevents unwanted molecules and cells from entering the brain, but becomes leaky with age. This leakage of the blood-brain barrier generates inflammation and damage in the brain, and is thought to be an early inciting event in the onset of neurodegenerative conditions. Pericytes are critical for maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and have emerged as key contributors to Alzheimer's disease (AD) […]

Eccogene earns $50m as AstraZeneca starts Phase 3 weight-loss pill trials

Eccogene has received a $50 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca following the initiation of a global Phase 3 clinical program for elecoglipron. Elecoglipron is an investigational once-daily oral small-molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist being developed for cardiometabolic diseases, and the Phase 3 program includes Embold trials in people with obesity or overweight with and without type […] The post Eccogene earns $50m as AstraZeneca starts Phase 3 weight-loss pill trials appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Insilico advances AI-designed obesity and diabetes drug candidate to safety trials

Insilico Medicine has nominated ISM1354, an AI-driven small molecule preclinical candidate targeting the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor for potential intervention in obesity, type 2 diabetes and related cardiometabolic conditions. The company claims preclinical evaluation showed oral bioavailability of 75-104% across mice, rats, dogs and monkeys and at the same dose produced at least 18-fold greater […] The post Insilico advances AI-designed obesity and diabetes drug candidate to safety trials appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cerebral oxygen extraction in Alzheimer’s disease

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a modifiable determinant of brain health and has been associated with greater brain volume, improved cognition, and reduced dementia risk. However, whether CRF influences cerebral oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), a marker reflecting the balance between cerebral oxygen delivery and metabolic demand, remains poorly understood in aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We performed a secondary analysis of the Acute Exercise Response on Brain Imaging and Cognition (AEROBIC) study to investigate relationships among CRF, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and OEF in cognitively healthy older adults (CH) and individuals with AD. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated that higher CRF was independently associated with lower OEF. A significant CRF × diagnosis interaction indicated that this relationship was present in AD but not CH. Across the full cohort, higher CBF

Carotid atherosclerosis progression in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundEvidence regarding the association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and cardio-cerebrovascular risk remains conflicting, and it is unclear whether the dynamic progression of carotid atherosclerosis in PD patients differs from that in non-PD individuals. This study aimed to compare the progression of carotid atherosclerosis over a 1-year follow-up between PD patients and matched controls, and to investigate whether PD influences this progression independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.MethodsThis prospective cohort study ultimately included 61 PD patients and 59 age- and sex-matched non-PD controls. Carotid ultrasound was performed at baseline and at the 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was the annual change in total plaque area (ΔTPA), with plaque progression defined as ΔTPA ≥ 0.05 cm2. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting for diabetes, smok

Heartseed eyes Japan approval for heart cell therapy

One-year results for the open-chest version look promising, the company says, and a catheter-based method is now enrolling patients. Current treatments for severe heart failure can help manage symptoms and slow progression. Replacing heart muscle that has already been lost is a separate ambition, and it’s the one Heartseed is chasing. The cardiac regenerative medicine […] The post Heartseed eyes Japan approval for heart cell therapy appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Transplanted Hearts Shift Toward Recipients’ Molecular Age

A new preprint study suggests that transplanted hearts’ epigenetic age and possibly function are influenced by their recipients’ age. The findings can be relevant to both expanding the donor pool and rejuvenation through organ replacement [1]. The heart of the […]

Mitochondrial membrane lipid cardiolipin controls fiber-type adaptations in aging muscle via estrogen-related receptor γ

Europäische Union empfiehlt regelmäßige Herz-Kreislauf-Checkups ab 35 Jahren

Brüssel – Um die Zahl der Todesfälle durch Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen zu senken, empfiehlt die Europäische Union (EU) regelmäßige Checkups ab einem Alter von 35 Jahren. EU-Bürger unter 35 Jahren sollten mindestens einmal ihr Herz-Kreislauf-System untersuchen lassen, empfahl die EU-Kommission zudem. Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen verursachen in der EU...[weiter lesen]

Pomegranate compound improves heart function by up to 80% in study

A compound the body can make after eating pomegranates, walnuts, and some berries improved measures of heart function by up to 80% in animal models of a difficult-to-treat form of heart failure. Urolithin A helped stiff heart tissue relax and reduced scarring and abnormal enlargement. It also improved relaxation in engineered human heart tissue.

Variant Bio expands AI target discovery deal with Boehringer Ingelheim into heart disease

Variant Bio has expanded its multi-year research collaboration and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to include cardiovascular disease, building on prior work in kidney disease. The expanded collaboration will apply Variant Bio’s Inference platform to discover and validate novel cardiovascular targets. According to the company, the AI-powered Inference platform conducts end-to-end genomic analysis using proprietary […] The post Variant Bio expands AI target discovery deal with Boehringer Ingelheim into heart disease appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Old hearts age backwards: transplanted organs adjust to host's biological age

Plasma p-tau181 moderates the association between ten-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk and mild cognitive impairment – HABS-HD

IntroductionThis study examined cross-sectional associations between ten-year American Heart Association (AHA) atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and plasma Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in relation to cognitive outcomes and to determine whether ASCVD risk modifies biomarker–cognition relationships.MethodsBaseline data were analyzed from cognitively unimpaired and mild cognitive impaired (MCI) participants enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain Study–Health Disparities (HABS-HD), a large, community-based cohort enriched for racial and ethnic diversity. Plasma biomarkers included amyloid-β42/40 (Aβ42/Aβ40), phosphorylated tau (p-tau181 and p-tau217), and neurofilament light (NfL). Ten-year ASCVD risk was calculated using pooled cohort equations. Multivariable logistic regression models examined associations of ten-year ASCVD risk and plasma biomarkers with MCI, whil

Herz-Kreislauf-Prävention: Was der EU-Herzplan für Österreich bedeutet

Alle 15 Minuten stirbt in Österreich ein Mensch an einer Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankung. Der europäische Safe-Hearts-Plan soll das ändern. Wie das gelingen kann. 🎙️

BioCardia targets Japanese approval for heart failure therapy by 2027

BioCardia provided a regulatory update outlining near-term milestones for its CardiAMP and Helix programs. BioCardia is working toward a Shonin pre-market submission to Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency in Q4 2026 and has supplied detailed responses to PMDA consultation questions while preparing the Shonin application, the Quality Management System application and foreign manufacturer registration; […] The post BioCardia targets Japanese approval for heart failure therapy by 2027 appeared first on Longevity.Technology.

Giving Cells Fresh Mitochondria Helps Clear Damaged Ones

Researchers have discovered that BNIP3, which regulates mitochondrial maintenance, is increased with aging, harming the heart’s ability to process energy. Mitochondrial transplantation was found to be effective against this increase in […]

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol modulates amyloid-related entorhinal vulnerability and episodic memory performance in older adults

IntroductionCerebral amyloid-beta (Aβ) burden does not fully explain variation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related brain structure and episodic memory. We examined whether circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) modifies the cross-sectional statistical association between Aβ burden, the entorhinal cortex (EC) thickness and episodic memory performance.MethodsCross-sectional data from 1,253 individuals in the Gwangju Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias cohort (798 cognitively normal, 425 mild cognitive impairment, 30 AD dementia) were analyzed. Primary conditional-process models were adjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, and HbA1c; clinical diagnosis was examined in sensitivity analyses. HC3 heteroskedasticity-consistent inference was used for the focal interaction, and indirect associations were estimated using 10,000 bootstrap resamples.ResultsGreater A

Increasing daily step count in mild cognitive impairment: a 12-month randomised controlled trial

IntroductionDespite numerous studies confirming the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognitive function, there is a lack of randomised controlled trials involving long-term, continuous monitoring of physical activity that assess the effect of step-based intervention on cognition-related outcomes. Therefore, this study evaluated whether increasing daily step count improves cognitive performance and brain health markers in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsCaucasian, community-dwelling participants aged 50–70 years with MCI and smartphone ownership were recruited for this randomised, controlled, parallel-group study, and assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group aimed to achieve ≥10,000 steps daily, with no individualised or baseline-adjusted activity targets, whereas controls maintained usual activity. Physical activity was monitore

Retinal Imaging Changes Correlate with the Early Stages of Atrial Fibrillation

Researchers here suggest yet another possible use for retinal imaging, in this case an assessment of the burden imposed on the central nervous system by atrial fibrillation in its early stages. The retina is a window into the health of the central nervous system; many of the pathologies of the aging brain also take place in the retina. Retinal imaging is a relatively low cost procedure, and machine learning techniques make it feasible to reliably categorize features in the retina that change with aging and disease. Atrial fibrillation, one of the most common heart conditions causing an irregular heart rhythm, affects millions of people worldwide and significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. Detecting it early, before symptoms arise, remains a major clinical […]

Association between atherogenic dyslipidemia and DBS-derived p-tau217 in older adults: evidence from SHARE DBS data

BackgroundAtherogenic dyslipidemia has been associated with adverse cognitive and dementia-related outcomes, but its relationship with Alzheimer’s disease-related blood biomarkers remains unclear.ObjectiveTo examine whether the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is associated with dried blood spot (DBS)-derived phosphorylated tau 217 (p-tau217) in older adults from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional analysis included adults aged ≥50 years from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe DBS biomarker substudy. AIP was calculated as log10(triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Multivariable linear regression with robust standard errors evaluated standardized natural log-transformed p-tau217, with additional dose–response analyses, comparisons across neurological biomarkers, and sensitivity analyses.

Targeting Inflammation to Treat Atherosclerosis

Like many age-related conditions, atherosclerosis is accelerated by the chronic inflammation of aging. An atherosclerotic plaque is an inflammatory environment, in which macrophage cells are overwhelmed by excess cholesterol and toxic derivatives of cholesterol. Macrophages attempt to remove cholesterol from the plaque, returning it to the bloodstream attached to HDL particles, and otherwise repair the damage. Inflammatory signaling both attracts macrophages to the plaque and hinders macrophage repair efforts, overall making it more likely that the macrophages will die and add their mass to the growing plaque. Further, it distorts the behavior of cells close to the plaque, which can also act to accelerate plaque growth, such as via the transformation of smooth muscle cells into more macrophages. Thus there are good reasons to try […]

Novartis’ Lp(a) drug misses key cardiovascular goal

Trial of 8,000+ people finds cardiovascular drug fails to cut heart attacks and strokes, leaving a key longevity risk unresolved. The drug pelacarsen did exactly what it was supposed to do, chemically speaking. It just didn’t translate into fewer patients having heart attacks or strokes, and that’s the part that stings. Novartis said earlier this […] The post Novartis’ Lp(a) drug misses key cardiovascular goal appeared first on Longevity.Technology.