Key Findings
This research, published as a bioRxiv preprint, reports the development of an open-source AI-enabled screening platform for the rapid identification of geroprotectors—drugs that delay aging—using C. elegans (nematodes). This innovative platform efficiently screened 2,782 FDA-approved drugs, successfully identifying 31 compounds that reproducibly increased heat stress resistance. These identified compounds were confirmed to extend the lifespan of nematodes and exhibit anti-aging activity in human cells, thus presenting new possibilities for anti-aging drug discovery and repurposing.
Technical / Clinical Details
The developed AI-enabled screening platform integrates a high-throughput assay that measures heat stress resistance in C. elegans with AI-driven image analysis and data analytics. Heat stress resistance is a widely recognized biomarker closely associated with an organism’s lifespan and aging processes. The AI automatically extracts parameters such as nematode survival rate and motility from complex image data, evaluating the geroprotective activity of compounds objectively and with high sensitivity. This capability allows for the efficient evaluation of thousands of compound libraries in a short period compared to traditional screening methods. The 31 identified compounds not only extended lifespan in C. elegans but also demonstrated suppression of cellular senescence markers (e.g., SA-β-gal activity, p16INK4a expression) in human cell culture systems, indicating the broad applicability of their anti-aging effects.
Background & Context
Aging is a major risk factor for many prominent diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The discovery of geroprotectors that target aging mechanisms is expected to significantly contribute to extending healthy lifespans and preventing diseases. However, screening for geroprotectors traditionally involves directly measuring lifespan, a process that is both time-consuming and costly. Advances in AI technology are overcoming this challenge, enabling more rapid and efficient drug discovery. Screening FDA-approved drugs explores the potential for new applications of existing medications (drug repositioning), leading to shortened development times and increased success rates.
Strategic Significance & Outlook
This open-source AI-enabled screening platform will serve as a powerful tool to accelerate the discovery of geroprotectors. The 31 identified compounds could advance into more detailed mechanistic studies and clinical development as lead candidates for new anti-aging therapies. Furthermore, the platform itself can enhance drug discovery efficiency through its application to other model organisms and drug libraries. In the future, AI is expected to further integrate aging research and drug discovery, accelerating the development of new therapies that contribute to extending healthy lifespans. This technology also holds the potential to influence the development of personalized anti-aging strategies, offering a tailored approach to healthy longevity.
Source: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.10.743574v1
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