The brain-gut axis of longevity

doubling of the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans due to altered insulin-like growth factor signalling is considered by many as the first milestone in the longstanding quest for ‘longer life’ [1]. Decrease in growth factor signalling extends life span not only in worms but also in mammals. Since then, a number of genetic factors acting at cellular, tissue and organismal levels have been shown to regulate longevity and to ameliorate aging. This includes chromatin remodelling factors, transcription factors, enzymes involved in lipid metabolism and components of the cellular translation machinery and of autophagy. The actions of many of these factors converge on lipid metabolism in the intestine or the gut of C. elegans [2, 3]. However, it is not clear how various mechanisms for life span extension are coordinated in a multicellular organism?