Caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are a class of compounds designed to replicate the health and longevity benefits of caloric restriction (CR)—reducing food intake without malnutrition—without requiring actual dietary restriction. Because long-term CR is difficult for humans to sustain and carries risks like muscle loss, CRMs represent a pharmacological strategy to delay biological aging and prevent age-related diseases.

Mechanisms of Action

CRMs work by tricking cells into a state of "perceived" nutrient scarcity, triggering conserved stress-response pathways usually activated by fasting.

• Autophagy Induction: A primary mechanism of CRMs is the stimulation of autophagy, the cellular "cleanup" process that recycles damaged proteins and organelles.

• Protein Deacetylation: CRMs often promote the deacetylation of cellular ...