Overview

• A Queen Mary University study published June 24 shows that caffeine activates AMPK, a conserved cellular fuel gauge, rather than directly targeting the TOR growth regulator.
• Experiments in fission yeast reveal that AMPK activation by caffeine enhances stress responses, regulates cell growth and supports DNA repair pathways linked to aging.
• Researchers discovered that caffeine can override the cell’s DNA damage checkpoint, allowing cells with unrepaired DNA to continue dividing and heightening vulnerability.
• The team emphasizes that caffeine’s effects depend on the presence of specific proteins and pathways, which may account for inconsistent outcomes in earlier health studies.
• Scientists caution that moderate caffeine intake is essential to reap its potential longevity advantages while avoiding adverse impacts on DNA repair.