UCSF Bakar Aging Research Institute

We bring together UCSF scientists and clinicians to uncover mechanisms behind aging, develop novel diagnostic/therapeutic tools, and establish best practices for providing equitable care to older adults in our communities. geroscience.ucsf.edu

Proud to showcase BARI's Dr. Brian Feeley and his article in JAMA Internal Medicine on shoulder MRI abnormalities! It reveals most rotator cuff issues are age-related degenerations, common in asymptomatics, key for aging biology to avoid overtreatment and promote healthy mobility

Key for aging biology, where dysregulated pH contributes to neurodegeneration and lost proteostasis: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap…

Proud to feature BARI’s Diane Barber and her new review in Acta Physiologica on lysosome pH dynamics! It explores how pH regulation drives lysosomal function in health & disease.

BARI’s Peggy Cawthon joined a biomarkers of aging panel at ICFSR hosted by @NatureAging’s Sebastien Thuault, Luigi Ferrucci, David Furman & Dan Belsky. She highlighted how surrogate biomarkers for aging should prioritize outcomes important for patients like disability or dementia

Congrats to BARI’s Isha Jain on her groundbreaking Cell study! Using nutrigenomics, her team shows vitamin B3 reverses lethal NAXD effects, boosting NAD levels to extend lifespan dramatically and protect the brain. Read more here: cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

Huge congratulations to BARI member Kelsey Collins on winning the 2026 NEXT Award! Her groundbreaking work is revealing how fat tissue drives osteoarthritis and pain, moving us closer to real therapies for this whole-body disease. prnewswire.com/news-releases/…

BARI’s Dengke Ma shows visible light induces genes & improves adaptability in blind worms in a bacteria-dependent, wavelength-sensitive manner. They use the light-responsive promoter to develop a light-controlled aging model. elifesciences.org/articles/108507

BARI’s Isha Jain uncovers why high-altitude living lowers blood sugar: RBCs soak up glucose, ramp up 2,3-DPG under low oxygen, with hypoxia even rescuing diabetes in mice! sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

New from Andrew Yang at BARI: Neuroimmune crosstalk is key in neurodegeneration. This Nature Reviews piece maps microglial states, peripheral infiltration, and therapeutic strategies to tame inflammation and protect aging brains. go.nature.com/4096fGg

Exercise benefits without the workout: BARI’s Saul Villeda reveals in Cell how a liver “exercise factor” (GPLD1) fixes leaky brain blood vessels to reverse memory loss in aging and Alzheimer’s models. A game changer for fighting age-related memory decline. cell.com/cell/fulltext/…

BARI’s Michelle Arkin shares new research: Tiny “molecular glues” can lock down a key protein complex in the cell growth pathway, stopping overactive signals that fuel cancer. This could lead to better treatments for age-related cancers and growth disorders:

BARI’s Aimee Kao uncovers how lysosomal proteases break down APP in a pH-dependent, mutation-sensitive way and how soluble APP boosts tau proteolysis. Key insights into AD pathology via MSP-MS mapping

A must read on women’s brain health across the lifespan: continuum.aan.com/doi/10.1212/co…

BARI’s Sara LaHue reviews the neurologic complications of pregnancy and menopause in the latest Continuum. From stroke and epilepsy risks in pregnancy to how menopause influences MS, migraine, and dementia risk.

Read more here: cell.com/neuron/fulltex…

New from Andrew Yang at BARI: Hypertension injures the brain through direct angiotensin II signaling, not just high pressure. Early damage hits endothelial cells, oligodendrocyte precursors, and inhibitory interneurons long before cognitive deficits appear.

BARI’s John Newman explores epigenetic clocks in ICU patients: reliable measures from serum clots, and for the Elastic Net clock, higher age acceleration correlates with lower delirium severity. An interesting link worth exploring further: bit.ly/3MLxYK4