Therapeutic activation of circadian-regulated autophagy to increase lifespan and healthspan
This technology is a therapeutic agent that activates or enhances circadian-regulated autophagy to enhance longevity and delay aging and age-related health conditions.
Unmet Need: Non-dietary interventions against age-related health decline
Aging and age-related diseases pose a significant burden to healthcare, considering that the incidence of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative disease increase exponentially with age. Time-restricted feeding, or intermittent fasting, has become of interest in recent years for its potential to delay aging and improve health. Since time-restricted feeding does not limit nutrient or caloric uptake, its benefits are believed to stem from circadian-regulated functions, however the mechanisms are still unclear and there remains a need for non-dietary interventions that efficaciously promote healthy aging.
The Technology: Circadian-regulated autophagy genes for healthy aging
This technology identifies circadian-regulated autophagy as acellular mechanism that promotes longevity in response to tim-restricted feeding. The specific proteins involved in this mechanism (UNC-15-like kinase (ULK1), microtubule-associated protein, light chain 3 (LC3), adenosine monophosphate protein kinase (AMPK), ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K)) can be therapeutically targeted in order to evoke the benefits of time-restricted feeding without requiring the subject to follow a time-restricted feeding schedule. Alternatively, any agent that activates circadian-regulated autophagy can also be therapeutically administered for the same benefits. As such, this technology offers a potential therapeutic strategy for healthier aging that circumvents the need for burdensome intermittent fasting.
This technology has been validated in vivo in Drosophila melanogaster.
Applications:
- Non-dietary therapeutic strategies for increasing lifespan
- Therapeutic targets for aging-related diseases
- Research model for studying lifespan extension
- Research tool for studying circadian-regulated autophagy
- Therapeutic strategies for circadian-regulated autophagy
Advantages:
- Does not require dietary changes or significant changes to lifestyle
- Targets highly conserved genes important for human aging
- Validated in an animal model that is well established in aging-related studies
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending (US 20240000753)
Related Publications:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU21009
Licensing Contact: Kristin Neuman