Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 10, 2025 3 hours, 58 minutes ago
Medical News: New View on Cell Powerhouses and Aging
Researchers from the College of Medicine at The Catholic University of Korea in Seoul have made new discoveries about the vital role of mitochondria—tiny energy-producing structures inside cells—and how they affect aging and age-related diseases. Their study focuses on a process called mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO), which was previously seen only as a way to generate energy. However, this
Medical News report reveals that FAO does far more than just fuel our cells—it also helps the body fight stress, regulate aging, and may even prevent serious illnesses like cancer, obesity, fibrosis, and heart disease.
New research shows that mitochondrial fat metabolism plays a central role in aging and disease prevention
What Is FAO and Why It Matters
Fatty acid oxidation is the process where cells break down fats to create energy. This energy supports high-demand organs like the heart, muscles, and kidneys. The researchers explain that FAO not only supplies energy but also produces molecules that protect cells from damage, assist in stress recovery, and even influence how certain genes work through protein acetylation.
Cells rely on FAO not just during exercise or fasting but also during difficult conditions like low oxygen or exposure to toxins. When this system fails, it can lead to serious health issues ranging from liver failure to metabolic diseases.
Four Ways FAO Helps the Body Fight Stress
The study identifies four important ways FAO helps the body manage stress:
-Energy Compensation
When the body is under stress—like after DNA damage—FAO kicks in to provide ATP, the cell’s main energy source, to keep the cell alive and functioning.
-Redox Balance and Antioxidants
FAO supports the body’s antioxidant systems by producing NADPH, which helps detoxify harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). While too much FAO can produce ROS, when balanced correctly, it actually protects cells.
-Protein Acetylation and Gene Control
By producing acetyl-CoA, FAO affects how proteins and genes are regulated, especially during stress. This helps the body react more quickly and accurately to changing conditions.
-Mitochondrial Quality Control
FAO helps maintain healthy mitochondria by influencing mitochondrial division, removal of damaged parts (mitophagy), and preventing harmful fat buildup in cells
FAO Dysfunction Accelerates Aging
The study outlines how poor FAO is tied to many age-related diseases:
-Cellular Senescence: When FAO weakens, cells age faster, stop dividing, and release harmful inflammatory substances. This leads to tissue damage and chronic disease.
-Obesity and Metabolic Aging: High insulin levels and low protective hormones in obesity reduce FAO, causing fat accumulation and inflammation that accelerate aging.
-Cancer Resistance: Some cancers rely on FAO to survive harsh conditions and chemotherapy. Disrupting FAO in cancer cells can make them more sensitive to treatments.
-Fibrosis: In the liver, heart, and kidneys, reduced FAO leads to fat buildup, scarring, and organ failure. Boosting FAO with certain drugs shows promise in reversing this.
-Heart and Brain Aging: The heart and brain need high levels of energy. As people age, FAO declines, leading to heart weakness and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s
Conclusion
This study offers groundbreaking insights into how fatty acid oxidation inside mitochondria does much more than keep the lights on in our cells. FAO acts as a multitasking manager—supplying energy, reducing cell damage, helping genes function properly, and keeping mitochondria clean and efficient. As we age, any disruption in this system can lead to major health problems. These new findings could lead to novel therapies that slow aging, fight chronic diseases, and improve quality of life in the elderly.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Cells.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/24/1956
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