DEAF1 gene identified as factor in muscle aging

Researchers have identified the DEAF1 gene as a key factor contributing to muscle weakening during the aging process. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests that increased DEAF1 activity is linked to the overactivation of the mTORC1 cellular pathway. This imbalance causes muscle cells to produce more proteins while failing to remove old or damaged ones, leading to cellular dysfunction.

Experiments conducted on fruit flies and aged mice demonstrated that higher levels of DEAF1 correlate with faster muscle weakening, while reducing its levels helped restore protein balance and muscle strength. The findings also indicate that physical activity can slow this process by activating proteins that lower DEAF1 levels, helping muscles clear damaged proteins.

The research was conducted by scientists from the Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, in collaboration with Singapore General Hospital and Cardiff University.