Fruit flies remember their larval diet, which influences their longevity
A study led by researchers at RIKEN suggests that fruit flies can retain a biological memory of their larval diet, which impacts their adult lifespan. Reducing protein intake during the larval stage was found to extend the lifespan of adult flies, though it resulted in smaller body size and reduced reproductive output.
Why it matters
Understanding how early-life nutrition influences long-term health and aging processes could provide insights into metabolic programming and longevity in other species.
Meal memory Fruit flies remember their larval diet, which influences their longevity Eating less protein as larvae may limit their ability to produce proteins as adults.
0 Credit: Tomasz Klejdysz Credit: Tomasz Klejdysz Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Back in the 1930s, scientists noticed that water fleas and rats fed restricted diets while young went on to live longer. The same effect has since turned up in fruit flies and mice. What we did not know was how a meal eaten in infancy could affect health weeks, months, or even years later. A recent Nature study might have found the answer.
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