Description

Biological ageing can be defined as the decline of vital functions of an organism with increasing age. Energy metabolism and the process of ageing are intricately linked. First, (mild) calorie restriction extends the average life span of many different organisms, from yeast to mammals, and it delays the onset of age-related diseases. Second, in higher organisms physical exercise - which is on the demand side of energy metabolism - decreases disease risk and extends life span. Third, many of the genes that were found to be related to ageing and lifespan, are directly involved in energy metabolism. And last but not least, the functionality of the metabolic system itself declines with age. The aim of the project is (i) to reveal the changes in the metabolic network in mouse that cause the decline of flexibility of the metabolic system with age and (ii) understand how this decline is modulated by calorie restriction and exercise.

 

Projectleader

Dr B. Jayawardhana, Prof.dr. A.J. van der Schaft

 

Researcher

Dr S. Rao

 

Funding

NWO – Groningen Centre for Systems Biology

 

Contact information