Longevity & AgingMitophagy: The Cellular Cleanup System Driving Disease and Longevity Therapies
This landmark 2026 review from EPFL and Fudan University synthesizes decades of research on mitophagy — the selective autophagy pathway that eliminates damaged mitochondria. The authors detail the molecular machinery of the PINK1–Parkin ubiquitin-dependent pathway and receptor-mediated pathways, explaining how 'eat me' signals recruit autophagy machinery for lysosomal degradation. They show that dysregulated mitophagy is a unifying feature across neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's), cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, immune dysfunction, and cancer. The review maps emerging therapeutic strategies — from small-molecule mitophagy activators to precision targeting of specific pathway components — positioning mitophagy restoration as a broad translational opportunity for human health and longevity.
