Scientific Glossary

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Autophagy (Greek: "self-eating") is a lysosomal degradation pathway that removes cellular debris: damaged proteins, dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy), and excess organelles. Activated by nutrient deprivation, exercise, and mTOR inhibition. Reduced autophagy with aging is associated with accumulation of cellular damage. Research into peptides that modulate autophagy is active in longevity science. Rapamycin's lifespan-extending effects in mice appear partly mediated through autophagy enhancement.