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Caffeine Activates AMPK to Slow Aging and Guide Longevity Interventions

Confirmation of AMPK activation across species has spurred exploration of safe dietary or pharmacological interventions.

A cup of coffee paced on a table with coffee beans in the background

Overview

  • Long-term cohort data link moderate caffeinated coffee consumption to reduced mortality risk and improved markers of healthy aging.
  • Experiments published in Microbial Cell demonstrate that caffeine directly activates AMPK, a conserved cellular energy sensor that governs growth, DNA repair, and stress resilience.
  • Questions persist over whether caffeine’s impact on cell growth involves direct or indirect inhibition of TORC1 and the roles of regulators such as Ssp1, Ssp2, and Amk2.
  • Since AMPK is also targeted by drugs like metformin and rapamycin, caffeine’s mechanism may inform development of next-generation longevity therapies.
  • Ongoing work is focused on defining safe caffeine intake thresholds and isolating bioactive compounds in coffee to translate these findings into practical dietary and drug-based strategies.