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Sluggish proteins may underpin aging and chronic disease

“Proteolethargy” is when proteins get stuck in chemical traffic jams instead of zipping around

An illustration shows slow proteins in a traffic jam

In response to cellular stress, proteins become ensnared in chemical traffic jams, creating a kind of widespread sluggishness scientists call “proteolethargy.”

Jennifer Cook-Chrysos/Whitehead Institute

By Elie Dolgin

As we age, our bodies slow down — not just in how we move, but also at the cellular level, where a decline in protein mobility may contribute to the development of chronic health issues.