Anti-ageing regimens trigger characteristic changes in gene activity, a finding that could aid the search for ways to boost longevity.

Evidence is growing that some diets — such as long-term restrictions on calorie intake — and a handful of drugs extend lifespan in mammals. To understand the genetic underpinnings of this effect, Vadim Gladyshev at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and his colleagues exposed mice to various lifespan-extending measures and recorded the animals’ gene activity. The researchers also searched public databases for results from similar experiments.

The team’s analysis shows that diverse lifespan-prolonging interventions produce similar patterns of gene activation. The gene Cth, for example, has several functions, among them coding for an enzyme that is involved in shielding cells from harmful molecules. Raised Cth activity was observed in mice on calorie-restricted diets and in mice given longevity-boosting supplements.

The researchers also identified other compounds that generate the genetic patterns associated with measures known to increase longevity. These compounds are candidates for life-extending drugs, the authors say.