Caffeine activates ancient AMPK switch that may slow cellular aging

Scientists from the Cellular Ageing and Senescence laboratory at Queen Mary University of London discovered that caffeine can flip the AMPK switch, an ancient energy-sensing system shared across species. By turning on AMPK, caffeine boosts cellular stress defenses, DNA repair capacity and growth control, all factors associated with slower aging. This contrasts with previous work linking caffeine to the TOR pathway, indicating a distinct route of action.

The study, published in Microbial Cell, used fission yeast as a model because of its similarity to human cells. Although the findings stem from a simple organism, the presence of AMPK in humans makes it a promising target for future metabolic and longevity research. The authors caution that the results do not prove coffee extends human lifespan, but they provide a molecular clue for potential dietary or therapeutic interventions.