IIIT Delhi Researchers Develop AI Platform to Revolutionize Healthy Aging Research

The platform’s versatility offers immense potential for developing therapeutic interventions for aging and age-related diseases.

A team of researchers from the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT Delhi) has unveiled AgeXtend, an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven platform designed to accelerate the discovery of molecules promoting healthy aging.

Published in the prestigious journal Nature Aging, the research marks a pivotal step in understanding the biological processes that drive aging and exploring potential therapeutic solutions.

How AgeXtend Works

AgeXtend is a multimodal geroprotector prediction platform that utilizes bioactivity data from known geroprotectors to identify new molecules capable of slowing down the aging process.

A geroprotector is a substance or therapy that slows down the aging process or extends lifespan. It targets the underlying mechanisms of aging, such as cellular senescence, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

The platform integrates cutting-edge AI modules to predict geroprotective potential, assess toxicity, and pinpoint target proteins along with their mechanisms of action.

This holistic approach ensures accuracy and safety in identifying promising candidates for anti-aging therapies.

Findings & Applications

In their research, AgeXtend successfully identified the longevity-promoting effects of well-known compounds such as metformin and taurine, even when these were excluded from its training data.

The platform screened approximately 1.1 billion compounds, yielding numerous promising candidates validated through experimental models including yeast, Caenorhabditis elegans (a nematode species), and human cell cultures.

Additionally, the study delved into the natural metabolites of the human microbiome, revealing their potential role in regulating cellular senescence.

This highlights AgeXtend's capability to uncover novel mechanisms that contribute to the aging process.

“AgeXtend bridges the gap between artificial intelligence and biology, enabling us to not only predict potential anti-aging molecules but also understand how they work,” explained Dr. Gaurav Ahuja, senior researcher and co-author of the study.

The platform’s versatility offers immense potential for developing therapeutic interventions for aging and age-related diseases, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in the field of longevity research.

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