University of Helsinki researchers discovered that the capacity of intestinal stem cells to maintain cellular balance in the gut diminishes with age, and identified a new mechanism linking nutrient adaptation of these stem cells to aging. This insight could lead to methods for preserving gut function in the elderly. On the left: Model organism fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), gastrointestinal tract highlighted in green. On the right: Microscope images of the fruit fly intestine where cell nuclei are stained (cyan). The intestine on the top is from well-fed animal, and the intestine below from an animal kept on a restricted diet. Credit: Jaakko Mattila
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