Advancing Research
by funding Grant Programs and Fellowships
Driving Innovation
by guiding studies such as the FAST Initiative, the SuperAgers Initiative, and the TAME Trial
Furthering the Field
by supporting the infrastructure of three NIA Initiatives and leading the Amplifying Geroscience Initiative.
Top Breakthroughs driven by AFAR Experts
Delaying Disease by Targeting Aging
Saving Costs by Extending Healthspan
What are the Hallmarks of Aging?
How and Why Do We Age?
What is Geroscience?
What is the Longevity Dividend?
What's Next in aging research?
Dr. Imai’s team recently discovered that adipose tissue (body fat) plays a critical role in regulating the function of the hypothalamus—a “control center of aging”—through the secretion of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, or eNAMPT. eNAMPT is a key enzyme that contributes to the biosynthesis of NAD+, an essential currency of cellular energy metabolism.
Dr. Imai will analyze genetically engineered mice whose adipose tissue secretes eNAMPT more and examine whether these mice show significant age-related delays and even lifespan extension. Through his research, he hopes to understand the importance of adipose tissue in the systemic regulation of mammalian aging and longevity. His results could provide critical insights into our understanding of the inter-tissue communication between adipose tissue and the hypothalamus in regulating aging and promoting longevity. That understanding could lead to an effective intervention to ameliorate age-associated functional decline in humans.
