SRIG 24-31: Age-related effects of oxidative stress on Caenorhabditis elegans survival

What was the issue being addressed?

This project addressed the question of how organisms lose their ability to cope with cellular stress as they age—a key factor contributing to age-related diseases and decline. Specifically, we studied when Caenorhabditis elegans (a microscopic worm widely used in aging research) reaches its peak ability to resist oxidative stress and how that ability changes with age. We also investigated the role of a gene called nhr-49, which helps regulate the stress response, to better understand its impact on healthy aging. This research aims to uncover fundamental insights into how cells maintain resilience over time and how this process could be supported to promote longer, healthier lives. 

Provide a brief, lay description of the work undertaken/initiative.

We studied how the ability to handle stress inside the body changes as organisms age. Using tiny worms called Caenorhabditis elegans, which are commonly used to study aging, we looked at how well they could survive damage caused by a chemical that mimics aging-related stress. We discovered that young worms are better at coping with this stress than older ones, and that a specific gene, called nhr-49, plays a key role in helping them survive. This research helps us understand how the body’s natural defenses weaken with age and could lead to new ways to keep people healthier for longer. 

What is the expected impact this project will have on the community?

This project will help the community by advancing our understanding of how aging affects the body’s ability to protect itself from damage. By identifying when stress resistance begins to decline and which genes are involved, our research lays the groundwork for future strategies to prevent or delay age-related diseases. In the long term, this knowledge could lead to new treatments or lifestyle recommendations that help people stay healthier as they age, improving quality of life and reducing the burden of chronic illness on individuals, families, and the healthcare system.