The hallmarks of protein and amino acid restriction in aging and longevity

Knopf BA, Lamming DW · 2026 · Cell Press Blue · Atlas ID KNO2026

What this study shows

Defines the "hallmarks" of dietary protein restriction (PR) through the lens of aging: PR and restriction of specific essential amino acids — especially methionine, isoleucine and valine — improve metabolic health, healthspan and lifespan across organisms, with amino-acid composition (not just protein quantity) acting as a key determinant via nutrient-sensing pathways including mTORC1.

Abstract

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Despite widespread recommendations for higher protein intake during aging, increasing evidence suggests that dietary protein restriction (PR) promotes metabolic health, healthspan, and lifespan across diverse organisms. Mechanistic studies further demonstrate that restriction of specific amino acids, particularly methionine, isoleucine, and valine, recapitulates many of the benefits of PR, highlighting the specific amino acid composition of the diet as a key determinant of aging.

Read the full abstract on PubMed →

At a glance

Evidence type	R Review — secondary literature, not a new result Marked R because it is a review or synthesis of existing evidence rather than a new primary result; that is a different form of writing, not a weaker one.
Study type	Narrative Review
Model system	Cross-species review (yeast, worm, fly, rodent, human)
Journal	Cell Press Blue
Year	2026
Peer reviewed	Yes
Record last updated	2026-10-01
Source	DOI 10.1016/j.cpblue.2026.100079 · PMID 42639474 · Free full text (PMC13501984)

Extracted findings

These fields were extracted from the paper with AI assistance and have not been checked against the source. Read them as a pointer into the paper, not as curated claims; where they disagree with the curated summary above, the curated summary stands.

Intervention	None (narrative review) — synthesizes dietary protein restriction and restriction of methionine/isoleucine/valine
Target	Nutrient-sensing pathways including mTORC1
Model	Cross-species (yeast, worm, fly, rodent, human)
Effect	Protein restriction and restriction of specific essential amino acids improve metabolic health, healthspan and lifespan, with amino-acid composition (not just quantity) as a key determinant.

In the Atlas

Cite this paper

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Knopf, B. A., & Lamming, D. W. (2026). The hallmarks of protein and amino acid restriction in aging and longevity. Cell Press Blue. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpblue.2026.100079

@article{KNO2026,
  author       = {Knopf, B. A. and Lamming, D. W.},
  title        = {{The hallmarks of protein and amino acid restriction in aging and longevity}},
  journal      = {Cell Press Blue},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.cpblue.2026.100079},
  note         = {PMID: 42639474},
}

Cite this Atlas record

The record is the Atlas's own work — the evidence label, the extracted findings and the links. It is cited as part of the dataset, not as the paper.

Barton, O. (2026). Oliver's mTOR Atlas (record KNO2026) [Data set]. https://mtor-atlas.org/study/KNO2026/ · Dataset DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22059963

@misc{atlas_KNO2026,
  author       = {Barton, Oliver},
  title        = {{Oliver's mTOR Atlas}, record KNO2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://mtor-atlas.org/study/KNO2026/},
  doi          = {10.5281/zenodo.22059963}
}

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