Daijiworld Media Network- New York

New York, Mar 4: A ground-breaking study by researchers from Rutgers University’s New Jersey Medical School has revealed that brown fat may hold the key to healthier aging and improved physical fitness.

The study, published in Aging Cell, found that mice lacking a specific gene developed an enhanced form of brown fat, which significantly improved exercise capacity and extended lifespan by approximately 30 per cent. The researchers are now exploring the possibility of developing a drug that could replicate these effects in humans.

“Exercise capacity diminishes with age, and a method to enhance physical performance could be highly beneficial for healthful aging,” said Stephen Vatner, university professor and senior author of the study.

Unlike white fat, which primarily stores energy, brown fat is known to burn calories and regulate body temperature. This study further highlights its crucial role in boosting exercise performance by improving blood circulation to muscles during physical activity.

The genetically modified mice in the study exhibited higher amounts of active brown fat, leading to a 30 per cent increase in speed and endurance compared to normal mice. These mice, which lack a protein called RGS14, also displayed an increased lifespan—by around 20 per cent—with females living longer than males, a pattern similar to human longevity trends.

The findings offer promising insights into aging and longevity. “Despite advancements in medicine, healthful aging has not kept pace with increased lifespans,” noted Vatner.

The study authors emphasized the need to develop drugs based on models of healthful aging, which could help combat age-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer.