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dietary restriction can ex- Since the eyes are exposed
tend lifespan. For example, to the outside world, he
they set up experiments explained, the immune
showing that keeping flies defenses there are critically
in constant darkness ex- active, which can lead to
tended their lifespan. “That inflammation, which, when
seemed very strange to present for long periods of
us,” said Hodge. “We had time, can cause or wors-
thought flies needed the en a variety of common
lighting cues to be rhyth- chronic diseases. Addition-
mic, or circadian.” ally, light in itself can cause
photoreceptor degen-
eration which can cause
They then used bioin-
formatics to ask: Do the inflammation.
genes in the eye that are “Staring at computer and health and lifespan of an since photoreceptors are said Hodge, adding that
it may be that humans
just specialized neurons,
organism, including: how
also rhythmic and respon- phone screens, and being does the eye regulate he said, “the stronger link I could help maintain vision
sive to dietary restriction exposed to light pollution lifespan, and does the would argue is the role that by activating the clocks
influence lifespan? The well into the night are con- same effect apply to other circadian function plays in within our eyes. “It might be
answer was “yes, they do.” ditions very disturbing for organisms? neurons in general, espe- through diet, drugs, lifestyle
circadian clocks,” Kapahi cially with dietary restric- changes… A lot of really
“We always think of the eye said. “It messes up protec- The biggest question tions, and how these can interesting research lies
as something that serves tion for the eye and that raised by this work as it be harnessed to maintain ahead,” he said.
us, to provide vision. We could have consequences might apply to humans is, neuronal function through-
don’t think of it as some- beyond just the vision, simply, do photoreceptors out aging.” Reference: “Dietary restric-
thing that must be protect- damaging the rest of the in mammals affect longev- tion and the transcription
ed to protect the whole body and the brain.” ity? Probably not as much Once researchers under- factor clock delay eye
organism,” said Kapahi, as in fruit flies, said Hodge, stand how these processes aging to extend lifespan in
who is also an associate There is much to be un- noting that the majority are working, they can begin Drosophila” 7 June 2022,
adjunct professor of urolo- derstood about the role of energy in a fruit fly is to target the molecular Nature Communications.
gy at UCSF. the eye plays in the overall devoted to the eye. But clock to decelerate aging,

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