A Molecular Superhero That Helps Fight Aging

As adults get older, their body functions decline. This can cause a build up of harmful substances, called reactive oxygen species, which can damage the cells: the process is called oxidative stress. Luckily, the body uses superhero chemicals called antioxidants to fight against oxidative stress, with the most common being a chemical called glutathione. We were curious to know whether glutathione levels change with age, and how. In previous studies, some researchers measured glutathione levels in the brains of healthy individuals and in the preserved brains of people that had passed away. Other researchers measured glutathione levels in the blood. We analyzed all the results to see how they fit together. Compared to young adults, glutathione levels in older people were either higher, lower, or unchanged depending on the brain region scientists looked at. In blood, glutathione levels were usually lower with increasing age. This means that oxidative stress contributes to aging by damaging the cells in different parts of the brain and in the body, and that the superhero chemical provides protection by fighting oxidative stress.