What if a molecule best known for slowing aging could also control how much we eat? That’s exactly what the THALATEL project is starting to reveal.
More than an “anti-aging” enzyme
Telomerase — specifically its TERT component — is usually linked to protecting our chromosomes and delaying cellular aging. But it turns out that’s only part of the story.
Researchers found that TERT also plays a surprising role in the brain — particularly in the hypothalamus, which regulates hunger.
When the system breaks… so does appetite
Using a clever mouse model, scientists showed that removing TERT from hypothalamic neurons had dramatic effects:
- Mice started eating compulsively
- They gained weight very quickly
- Their satiety signals essentially stopped working
In short: when TERT is lost in the brain, appetite control breaks down.
A “metabolic shield” in the brain
Instead of just maintaining telomeres, TERT seems to protect neurons from stress — especially oxidative stress.
Without it, the hypothalamus behaves like an “aged” brain, even if the rest of the body is relatively healthy. The result? A system-wide metabolic imbalance.
Why this matters
This work reframes telomerase as more than an anti-aging tool — it may be a key regulator of metabolism.
That opens up exciting possibilities:
- New ways to treat obesity
- Targeting brain aging to improve metabolic health
- Reducing inflammation linked to age-related diseases
But there’s a catch: TERT is also linked to cancer risk, so any therapy needs to be carefully controlled.
What’s next
The next phase (Project HypoTERT) is already exploring safer approaches, including delivering TERT’s benefits without directly activating the gene.
For further technical details, access the original publication: Télomérase : le « bouclier » anti-âge qui bouscule notre appétit | CNRS Le journal.
The THALATEL project is a multi-institutional collaboration:
- Hôpital Mondor (Créteil): Serge Adnot, Larissa Lipskaia.
- IRCAN (Nice) & CRCM (Marseille): Vincent Géli (CNRS Research Director), Laura Braud.
- Hôpital Necker-Enfants malades (Paris): Franck Oury.
- Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (Nice): Jean-François Tanti.
- Centre de Neuroscience et Cognition (Lille): Vincent Prévot, Ariane Sharif, Ines Martinez.
- IRMB (Montpellier): Jean-Marc Brondello.