Researchers use network medicine to identify drugs that may slow aging

Researchers at Northeastern University and Harvard have developed a computational method to identify existing, FDA-approved drugs that may slow biological aging. Published in Nature Aging, the study utilizes a framework called “network medicine” to analyze the human interactome—a complex web of over 500,000 protein interactions. By mapping how drug protein targets relate to specific aging-related gene clusters, such as cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction, scientists can more efficiently predict which medications might serve as longevity therapeutics.

Parallel to these technological advancements, longevity experts are advocating for a shift in focus from lifespan to “healthspan.” This approach, supported by figures such as physician Peter Attia, emphasizes the compression of morbidity. Rather than simply extending the total number of years lived, the goal is to maximize the period of functional, healthy life and minimize the duration of decline and disability at the end of life.