What autophagy is
Autophagy (“self-eating”) is a conserved process by which a cell packages worn-out proteins and organelles and delivers them to lysosomes for breakdown and recycling. It is a core part of cellular quality control.
Why it matters for longevity
Autophagy tends to decline with age, and impaired autophagy is implicated in many age-related diseases. Conversely, several of the most robust pro-longevity interventions in animals — caloric restriction, fasting and mTOR inhibition with rapamycin — increase autophagy, which is thought to be part of how they work.
What the evidence shows
The mechanistic and animal evidence is strong, and the 2016 Nobel Prize recognised the underlying biology. Direct proof that boosting autophagy extends healthy human lifespan does not yet exist, and most “autophagy-activating” supplements are unproven for that purpose.
Bottom line
Autophagy is a credible target, but treat consumer claims of “activating autophagy” for longevity with caution.