Jena, May 25, 2026. A research team from the Jena Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung (FLI) has decoded a major cause of age-related energy loss in cells. The discovery not only shows why our cellular powerhouses fail in old age but also provides a concrete approach for regeneration through targeted dietary supplementation.
- Research Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI) Jena
- Research Lead: Dr. Maria Ermolaeva
- Key Finding: Deficiency of the membrane lipid phosphatidylcholine leads to the collapse of cellular energy networks
- Therapeutic Approach: Administration of choline or phosphatidylcholine for regeneration
Mitochondria: Our Cells’ Powerhouses in Focus
Mitochondria work like tiny powerhouses in every one of our cells. They convert food into usable energy, which is indispensable for movement, growth, and all repair processes in the body. Furthermore, they function as dynamic control centers that manage cellular communication. However, in the course of the aging process, their performance decreases rapidly.
Scientists at the Jena FLI, led by Maria Ermolaeva, have now discovered that this decline is not due to the genes of the mitochondria themselves. Instead, the composition of their outer shell changes. In old age, there is an increasing lack of a specific fat molecule, known as phosphatidylcholine.
How the Lack of Lipid Molecules Disrupts the Cellular Network
This specific membrane lipid normally ensures that the mitochondrial shells remain elastic. This flexibility is necessary for the individual powerhouses to merge into large, efficient networks. If the lipid is missing, the mitochondria fragment and malfunction.
The finely branched “power grid” of the cell collapses. Energy is distributed unevenly, and the cells lose their metabolic plasticity – the ability to react flexibly to fluctuating energy demands. This is considered a central driver of biological aging and promotes age-related diseases such as diabetes.
Simple Regeneration Through Targeted Nutrients
The Jena research group also provides a promising solution: the process is not a one-way street. In experiments with roundworms, just two days of feeding with phosphatidylcholine or its precursor choline were sufficient to completely regenerate the cellular powerhouses. The cells regained their youthful dynamics and produced energy efficiently once again.
Since these mechanisms could also be demonstrated in human cell cultures and clinical databases, the approach offers great potential for future therapies or preventive dietary supplements in humans.
🏛️ History & Buildings: The Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung (FLI)
The Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI) on the Beutenberg-Campus in Jena is one of Germany’s leading research institutions. Since its realignment in 2004, the institute has been dedicated to biomedical aging research. The scientists’ goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of aging in order to delay age-related diseases and enable healthy aging. The Beutenberg-Campus brings together numerous renowned institutes in the field of life sciences and strengthens Jena’s reputation as an international city of science.
Source:
Why we lose energy in old age – and what research from Jena can do about it
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.