Two related studies published today in Nature Metabolism show that a specialized intracellular recycling mechanism—chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)—is essential for muscle health. The research, conducted in animal models and human muscle samples, found that CMA preserves muscle strength and enables muscles to repair themselves and that boosting CMA activity is a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing age-related muscle decline. Both studies were led in part by Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading authorities on the role of CMA in health and disease.

Normal aging is characterized by deficits in the cognitive domains of learning, memory and executive function. Specifically, there are age-related changes in recall of information, speed of processing, visuospatial skills and cognitive flexibility. While these age-related changes in cognition, referred to as “normal cognitive aging,” are well-established, the underlying drivers of these changes are not fully understood.

A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that a treatment made up of natural particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by stem cells in bone marrow,  can slow and even reverse certain aspects of normal age-related memory decline. They showed that tiny vesicles helped maintain memory skills and improved communication between brain areas over a period of two years in an experimental model. According to the researchers, the vesicles contain molecules like proteins, lipids, and RNAs that help to reduce inflammation and support multiple types of brain cells in responding to age-related stress.

A new study from researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that while some areas of forensic anthropology appear to have tacit agreement on standardized methods and citations, there are many areas where forensic anthropologists are divided and lack standardization. The researchers believe these areas of division and disagreement-for example, thoughts on the objectivity of practitioners and education and training requirements, demonstrate the need for a robust and enforceable standardization that applies to all forensic anthropologists.