Chemical and Genetic Modulators of Cellular Longevity

Research in cellular and organismal longevity examines how chemical, metabolic, genetic, and environmental factors collectively influence aging processes. Recent advances have identified various modulators—including FDA-approved drugs, natural products, endogenous metabolites, and microbiome-derived molecules that can extend or shorten lifespan and healthspan. While pivotal cellular pathways, such as TORC1–AMPK signaling, mitochondrial function, redox balance, proteostasis, and telomere maintenance have been studied, important gaps remain in our understanding of how chemical and genetic interventions coordinate to modulate these mechanisms across different models.

Despite major progress, it remains challenging to distinguish broadly effective interventions from those with context-dependent outcomes. Studies in yeast, C. elegans, Drosophila, mice, human cells, and organoid models, as well as research into genetic variants in centenarians and age-related diseases, are gradually unraveling these complexities. However, translating discoveries from diverse models into viable strategies for promoting healthspan and longevity in humans is still an evolving field.

This Research Topic aims to delineate the chemical, metabolic, microbial, environmental, genetic, and genomic modulators of aging, highlighting both pro-longevity and pro-aging factors. The goal is to map their effects on key cellular pathways and support translational advances for geroprotective interventions.

To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

1. Approved drugs and experimental molecules influencing lifespan
2. Natural products and metabolites as aging modulators
3. Microbiome-derived and environmental factors affecting aging
4. Key regulatory pathways (e.g., TORC1–AMPK, mitochondrial dynamics, redox homeostasis)
5. Genetic and genomic insights from models and human cohorts
6. Multi-omics, screening strategies, and cross-species analyses
7. Translational and clinical approaches for geroprotection
8. Mechanistic links between age-related diseases and longevity

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Aging modulators, TORC1 AMPK, Healthspan genetics, Proteostasis longevity, Metabolites aging

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.