Biological System
Cellular Downregulation
Mitochondria, NAD, and autophagy — the cellular machinery of youth.
What it is
As we age, the housekeeping systems of the cell — mitochondrial biogenesis, NAD+ levels, and autophagy — slow down. Restoring them is the leading edge of longevity science.
NAD+ levels can fall by 50% by midlife, blunting energy production and DNA repair.
Autophagy — the cellular recycling process — is induced by fasting, exercise, and certain nutrients.
Signs of dysfunction
- Slower physical recovery
- Reduced VO2 max trajectory
- Sarcopenia (muscle loss) accelerating
- Cognitive processing speed decline
- Reduced thermal tolerance
Levers
What moves the system.
Recommended stack
Tools for this system.
References
- · Cell, 2020 — NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration.
- · Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2018 — Autophagy in aging.