Barshop Institute
February 27, 2026
In this review, titled “Visceral adiposity, metabolic health and aging,” the authors critically evaluate whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT), commonly known as visceral fat, is simply a correlate of aging or whether it plays a direct, causal role in driving age-related metabolic decline and systemic aging processes. The authors conclude that VAT is not inherently […]
November 21, 2025
Highlights: The paper reviews evidence on lifestyle-based weight loss in older adults with obesity, showing that caloric restriction reliably reduces fat mass but often leads to concurrent losses in muscle and bone. It identifies resistance training, adequate protein intake, and vitamin D supplementation as the most effective strategies to preserve musculoskeletal health during weight loss, […]
October 23, 2025
The paper, titled “Microglia-specific regulation of lipid metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease revealed by microglial depletion in 5xFAD mice,” explores how microglia, the brain’s immune cells, regulate lipid metabolism and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease progression. By studying microglial depletion in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, the research provides new insights into how these cells influence disease […]
August 28, 2025
Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom Estrogen may be protective against adverse effects Contact: Steven Lee, (210) 450-3823, lees22@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO (August 28, 2025) — Could a keto diet affect males differently from females? A study from The University of Texas Health Science at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) suggests so, and estrogen […]
August 28, 2025
Study Highlights Sex-Specific Impact of Keto Diet A recent study from the lab of David Gius, MD, PhD, and published in Cell Reports reveals that a long-term ketogenic diet leads to the accumulation of aging (senescent) cells and oxidative stress—but only in male mice. Female mice did not show these harmful effects. Interestingly, treating male […]
August 27, 2025
Nisi Jiang, PhD, first author and recent Biology of Aging IBMS graduate under the mentorship of James Nelson, PhD, led the first-ever comprehensive review of anti-aging compounds tested by the National Institute on Aging’s Interventions Testing Program. Published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Science (July 2025), the landmark study analyzed two decades of data […]
August 15, 2025
Highlights: This review explores ferroptosis, an iron-dependent, non-apoptotic form of programmed cell death, as a promising strategy for eliminating senescent cells, which accumulate with age and contribute to tissue dysfunction and age-related diseases such as fibrosis, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and neurodegeneration. The molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, including iron overload, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative damage, can be […]
August 14, 2025
Study Highlights Skeletal Muscle Changes During Disuse and Rehabilitation A recent study from the lab of Blake Rasmussen, PhD, and published in Physiological Reports examined how short-term skeletal muscle disuse and subsequent rehabilitation affect muscle function and gene expression in healthy middle-aged adults. Participants underwent seven days of unilateral lower-limb suspension followed by a two-week […]
July 29, 2025
Original story: UT Health San Antonio Newsroom Contact: Claire Kowalick, kowalick@uthscsa.edu SAN ANTONIO (July 28, 2025) — Study finds rapamycin shows greatest longevity effect in 20-year NIH Interventions Testing Program The first comprehensive review of two decades of research from the National Institute on Aging’s Interventions Testing Program highlights 13 interventions that show promise in preclinical […]
May 30, 2025
A review from Biology of Aging PhD student Christopher Litwin addresses the role of the liver in regulating circadian rhythm and metabolism. Christopher is a PhD student in the lab of Kevin Koronowski, PhD. Dr. Koronowski is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology and a Principal Investigator with the Sam […]
