Human healthy aging and longevity are complex phenomena influenced by a dynamic interplay of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, immune, and environmental factors. Long-lived individuals (LLIs), particularly centenarians, serve as valuable models for understanding these mechanisms due to their ability to delay or avoid age-related diseases. This overview synthesizes current insights into the multifaceted determinants of exceptional longevity, highlighting key findings from studies on LLIs across diverse populations.

A research group led by Professor Takahiro Nemoto from the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Department of Social Implementation Psychiatry at the Toho University Faculty of Medicine analyzed large-scale clinical data to examine the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence of anorexia nervosa (ICD-10 classification: F50.0) in young patients in Japan. Their study revealed that the number of patients with anorexia nervosa increased after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was published in the international academic journal Medicina (Lithuania) on March 3, 2025.

Bone-destructive diseases often arise from overactive osteoclasts, driven by the RANK-TRAF6 signaling pathway. However, treatments targeting this pathway also affect other biological processes. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new tetravalent peptide, CR4-WHD-tet, that fine-tunes this pathway. CR4-WHD-tet selectively inhibits signals important for late-stage osteoclast maturation without disrupting the pathway’s other essential functions. This innovative approach could lead to targeted therapies with reduced side effects for osteoporosis and similar diseases.

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have identified a remarkably small but critical piece of genetic code that helps determine how brain cells connect, communicate, and function. The discovery not only deepens our understanding of how the brain’s wiring is built but may also explain the origins of several neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Scientists have identified a brain molecule called NEAT1 that appears to play a central role in triggering light sensitivity (photophobia), a common and debilitating symptom of migraines.