A new study from Japanese researchers shows that boosting a little-known mitochondrial protein called COX7RP can extend both lifespan and healthspan in mice. The work, published in Aging Cell (18 November 2025), found that male mice engineered to produce extra COX7RP lived on average 6.6% longer than ordinary littermates. Importantly, they did not simply live longer; they stayed healthier longer. Transgenic animals showed better glucose control, lower blood triglycerides and cholesterol, stronger muscle endurance, and less liver fat accumulation than controls. [1]
The mechanism focuses on the assembly of mitochondrial respiratory “supercomplexes” that generate cellular energy more efficiently. Tissues from COX7RP‑Tg mice produced more ATP, showed higher NAD+ levels, and had reduced reactive oxygen species and lower activity of aging‑related genes in white adipose tissue. The research was led by Satoshi Inoue (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology) and Kazuhiro Ikeda (Saitama Medical University). The authors say supplements or drugs that enhance supercomplex formation might one day help preserve vitality and combat age‑related metabolic disorders.