Despite overall cortical thinning, the aging brain retains neuroplasticity, with MRI studies showing some layers of the somatosensory cortex remain stable or even thicker with age, indicating adaptive neuroplastic responses in older adults.

Differences in genetic translation accuracy impact species longevity, with long-lived species like naked mole-rats exhibiting lower translation error rates, and experiments in yeast show a genetic link between translation fidelity and increased lifespan.

The Fight Aging! newsletter from August 25th, 2025, highlights recent advances in aging research, including improvements in mitochondrial function, gut microbiome health, and genetic factors influencing lifespan.

Research into the gut microbiome reveals that its composition significantly influences long-term health and aging, with older individuals showing microbiota enriched in beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium, which are linked to better physical function.

A study of very long-lived humans aged 90 and above shows their gut microbiota differs from that of younger elderly, featuring higher levels of beneficial bacteria and pathways related to amino acid synthesis, suggesting microbiome profiles could serve as biomarkers for healthy aging.

A novel approach to enhancing mitochondrial function involves stimulating G protein-coupled receptors on mitochondrial membranes with engineered artificial receptors, which has shown promising results in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases, leading to improved cognitive performance.

While animal studies on the anti-aging drug rapamycin are promising, clinical evidence in healthy humans remains limited, and human trials have yet to conclusively demonstrate lifespan extension.

Activating mitochondrial G proteins can restore mitochondrial activity and reverse cognitive impairments in mice with neurodegenerative conditions, indicating a potential therapeutic strategy for age-related cognitive decline.

Fecal microbiota transplants from young to old animals have been shown to extend lifespan and improve health, prompting efforts to identify human microbiome features associated with longevity for potential therapies.

Research into antagonistic pleiotropy suggests that early reproductive traits like early menarche and childbirth are genetically linked to increased risks of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, supporting evolutionary theories of aging.