{
  "id": 2137355,
  "title": "What Ovaries Reveal About the Secret Ways Women Age, According to Francesca Duncan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/what-ovaries-reveal-about-the-secret-ways-women-age-according-to",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-20T13:01:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Time",
    "slug": "time",
    "url": "https://time.com/collection/longevity-leaders/2026/francesca-duncan/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ovaries, traditionally viewed as solely responsible for reproduction, are now recognized as critical to women's overall health span—the healthy years they live. Francesca Duncan, a reproductive biologist at Northwestern University and Buck Institute for Research on Aging, explains that \"pretty much every organ system you can think of is touched by the ovaries.\" This central role in healthy longevity makes ovaries a key focus for Duncan and her colleagues, who are finding ways to leverage this knowledge to promote longer, healthier lives for everyone, not just women.\n\nDuncan's research has revealed that ovaries undergo significant changes over time, including increased inflammation, fibrosis (scarring), and stiffness. These changes can negatively impact egg quality, hinder egg release, and potentially elevate the risk of diseases such as ovarian cancer. Moreover, the ovary's fibrotic changes mirror those in other organs, such as the heart, lungs, and liver, suggesting shared mechanisms of aging across the body. By studying the ovary, scientists can gain insights into these universal aging processes and potentially identify common solutions.\n\nIn a groundbreaking study published in April 2026, Duncan found that post-menopausal ovaries, previously thought to be inactive, become progressively scarred and inflamed. This discovery suggests that post-menopausal ovaries might release inflammatory signals that could contribute to overall health decline. Duncan views this as a major area for future research, emphasizing how much remains unknown about the ovary's role in aging.\n\nDuncan's laboratory is currently developing an ultrasound test to measure ovarian stiffness, which could serve as a biomarker for ovarian health and aging. Such a test could also help predict the success of fertility treatments like in-vitro fertilization. Her findings have already inspired research into therapeutic interventions. For instance, a Chinese study published in February 2026 demonstrated that an anti-fibrotic drug could enhance ovary function in mice, potentially restoring fertility in women with primary ovarian insufficiency—those whose ovaries cease functioning normally before age 40.\n\nDuncan's earlier work highlighted the decline of cohesin proteins with age, which leads to chromosomal instability and other issues. Currently, researchers in Germany are investigating ways to replenish these proteins in the ovary as a fertility enhancement strategy.\n\nWhile the ovary's connection to health span is still largely uncharted territory, the field of aging research has increasingly acknowledged its importance. In 2013, Duncan felt like an outsider when discussing ovarian research within the broader aging community. However, that perspective has shifted dramatically, reflecting a growing recognition of the ovaries' critical role in understanding and combating aging.",
  "summary": "“Pretty much every organ system you can think of is touched by the ovaries,” says Francesca Duncan, a reproductive biologist at Northwestern University and Buck Institute for Research on Aging.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ovaries impact overall women's health span, not just reproduction",
    "Increased inflammation, fibrosis, and stiffness in ovaries with age",
    "Post-menopausal ovaries become scarred and inflamed, potentially releasing inflammatory signals"
  ],
  "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."
}