Scientists Find Age Switch That Creates New Fat Cells in Midlife, Pointing to Future Drugs
Updated
Updated · Men's Health · Jul 16
Scientists Find Age Switch That Creates New Fat Cells in Midlife, Pointing to Future Drugs
3 articles · Updated · Men's Health · Jul 16
Summary
Research published in Science found midlife weight gain is driven not just by enlarged fat cells but by an age-related switch that spurs the body to make new ones.
APCs—fat-tissue stem cells—stayed quiet in young mice, but cells taken from old mice triggered a surge in fat-cell formation when placed in young animals; human cell tests showed a similar pattern.
The study also identified an older-age signaling pathway that prompts another stem-cell type to generate abdominal fat, helping explain why belly fat becomes harder to avoid with age.
Doctors said hormones, lower activity and poor sleep still add to midlife weight gain; for now, plant-heavy unprocessed diets, cardio, resistance training and 7 to 9 hours of sleep remain the main defenses.
Researchers said the finding could open the door to drugs that block fat-promoting stem cells, though such treatments are likely still a couple of years away.