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New Delhi – Researchers at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) have unveiled AgeXtend, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform poised to transform the discovery of molecules that promote healthy aging. This pioneering research, published in the prestigious journal Nature Aging, marks a milestone in the quest to understand and mitigate the effects of aging at a molecular level.
A Multimodal Approach to Geroprotection
AgeXtend integrates state-of-the-art AI technologies to identify and evaluate compounds with the potential to slow aging processes. By leveraging bioactivity data from known geroprotectors, the platform predicts the geroprotective potential of new molecules, assesses toxicity, and identifies target proteins and mechanisms of action. This end-to-end approach ensures both efficacy and safety in identifying therapeutic candidates.
“AgeXtend bridges the gap between artificial intelligence and biology, enabling us to not only predict potential anti-aging molecules but also understand how they work,” said Dr. Gaurav Ahuja, senior researcher and co-author of the study.
Breakthrough Findings and Potential
The platform has already demonstrated its capability by accurately identifying the longevity-enhancing effects of compounds such as metformin and taurine, even when these compounds were excluded from the training dataset. This underscores the robustness and predictive power of AgeXtend.
AgeXtend screened a staggering 1.1 billion compounds, revealing several promising candidates. These were validated through rigorous experiments on yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans (a widely used model organism in aging studies), and human cell models.
Additionally, the study explored the role of natural metabolites from the human microbiome in regulating cellular senescence, showcasing the platform’s versatility and potential to uncover novel aging-related mechanisms.
Implications for Healthy Aging and Beyond
By identifying molecules that extend cellular health and delay senescence, AgeXtend opens new avenues for addressing age-related diseases and enhancing overall well-being. The researchers emphasized the platform’s ability to uncover pathways previously unknown to science, offering a foundation for future therapeutic developments.
“This platform has immense potential to unlock new pathways for therapeutic interventions in aging and age-related diseases,” added Dr. Ahuja.
A Step Towards a Healthier Future
As the global population ages, the need for innovative solutions to enhance quality of life becomes more pressing. AgeXtend represents a significant step forward, demonstrating how AI can drive breakthroughs in complex biological challenges.
With its capacity to identify safe and effective geroprotective molecules, AgeXtend promises to be a game-changer in the field of aging research, offering hope for a healthier, more vibrant future for all.
