'Caloric restriction (CR) & CR mimetics delay ageing, and ageing related disorders'

Cláudia Cavada’s group showed that caloric restriction (CR) through neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors activation stimulates autophagy in rodent neurons. Moreover, NPY or CR ameliorates the progression of a neurodegenerative disorder (Machado Joseph Disease). Their new data not only show that NPY also reduces hallmarks of premature aging in human cells from progeria patients, but suggest that NPY receptors could be new targets to counteract whole-body aging and/or age related diseases.

About

Cláudia Cavadas is Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and obtained her PhD and habilitation in Pharmacology at the University of Coimbra, where she is Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy. She is also Leader of Neuroendocrinology and Aging group at CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, which has been investigating the hypothalamus and the impact of neuropeptides on age related mechanisms. Cavadas is President of the Portuguese Society of Pharmacology and coordinator of the Science Communication Office at CNC.