A groundbreaking artificial intelligence platform, AgeXtend, has identified numerous potential substances that could slow the aging process and improve health outcomes.
Developed by researchers at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), the AI tool screened over 1.1 billion compounds and has been hailed as a significant step in longevity research.
The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, highlights the platform’s ability to predict, test, and validate substances for their potential geroprotective effects—substances that can extend lifespan or combat age-related cellular decline.
“AgeXtend helps us predict anti-aging molecules and understand how they work,” Dr. Gaurav Ahuja, a senior researcher on the project, told India Today, describing the technology as a “powerful tool” to revolutionize aging-related treatments.
Using biological and chemical data, the platform excluded already known compounds like metformin and taurine to demonstrate its ability to predict new substances with similar benefits. Tests on human cells, yeast, and tiny worms (Caenorhabditis elegans) validated several predictions. These substances included natural compounds found in the human microbiome and metabolic processes, reinforcing the connection between gut health and aging.
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The concept of integrating AI into longevity research was further explored in a report published by Aging-US, which called AI-driven approaches the “cornerstone for extending human healthy lifespan.”
The report emphasized how artificial intelligence can analyze biomarkers—biological indicators of health or disease—and aging clocks, which estimate biological age rather than chronological age. By focusing on cellular processes like metabolism and damage repair, AI-driven tools are enabling researchers to target the root causes of aging rather than treating individual age-related diseases.
The potential applications of AgeXtend are vast, ranging from drug discovery to improving personalized medicine. Sakshi Arora, lead researcher at IIIT-Delhi, called AgeXtend a “discovery engine” for anti-aging research, according to India Today. “It opens the door to understanding aging better and finding practical solutions to help people live healthier, longer lives,” she said.
While early results are promising, experts caution that extensive testing and regulatory approval are needed before these compounds can be introduced as therapeutic options. Nonetheless, AgeXtend represents a major leap in geroscience, aligning with global efforts to shift healthcare’s focus from treating diseases to extending healthspan—the number of years a person lives in good health.
With aging populations becoming a global challenge, tools like AgeXtend could redefine how societies approach health and wellness.
“The fusion of AI with biomarker research has revolutionized how we understand aging,” noted the Nature Aging study, underscoring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in longevity science.
