{
  "id": 17594,
  "title": "Could eating less protein slow ageing?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/could-eating-less-protein-slow-ageing",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-07-31T15:02:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Scientist",
    "slug": "new-scientist",
    "url": "https://www.newscientist.com/article/2582717-high-protein-is-a-wellness-craze-but-could-restricting-it-be-anti-ageing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent studies suggest that eating less protein could slow ageing and extend lifespan in non-human animals. This challenges the common belief that dietary protein is universally beneficial. Dudley Lamming, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that consuming protein beyond the minimum required can lead to metabolic problems and may shorten lifespan in sedentary individuals and animals. In the studies he reviewed, rodents fed a protein intake that met minimum requirements lived significantly longer than those consuming twice that amount. This is likely because protein restriction increases levels of the hormone FGF21, which improves blood sugar levels and reduces senescent cells – age-related cells that accumulate and cause chronic inflammation. Moreover, restricting protein intake has been shown to dampen the activity of mTORC1, a protein that normally stimulates cell growth. In mice, reducing mTORC1 activity boosts cellular repair, cutting the risk of age-related conditions and extending lifespan. While these findings suggest that high protein intake may be harmful for sedentary individuals, experts caution that rodents' protein metabolism differs from humans'. Additionally, the review did not include many human studies showing that increased protein intake beyond the minimum can reduce the risk of frailty. Thus, the link between protein intake and ageing is still not fully understood, and more research is needed to determine its implications for human health.",
  "summary": "Protein is everywhere, but studies – mostly in non-human animals – suggest that limiting our intake could extend our lifespan",
  "key_points": [
    "Eating less protein may slow ageing in non-human animals.",
    "Protein restriction increases FGF21 hormone levels.",
    "Protein intake beyond minimum may shorten lifespan in sedentary individuals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}