Study links cold-induced muscle metabolite BH2 to longer lifespan in worms

Growing C. elegans roundworms about 5 °C below their comfortable temperature extended lifespan by roughly 15%. Cold boosted the muscle-produced metabolite BH2, which traveled to the gut and brain and drove tyrosine production; blocking the pathway erased the longevity gain.

• Cooling by 5 °C extended C. elegans lifespan by about 15%
• BH2 is produced in muscles and transported to gut and brain
• BH2 raises tyrosine output; blocking it removes the lifespan gain
• BH2 and tyrosine protected human cells from toxic protein clumps