Near-infrared light increases ATP, extends lifespan and improves mobility in aged Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Ageing is an irreversible cellular decline partly driven by failing mitochondrial integrity. Mitochondria accumulate DNA mutations and reduce ATP production necessary for cellular metabolism. This is associated with inflammation. Near-infrared exposure increases retinal ATP in old mice via cytochrome c oxidase absorption and reduces inflammation. Here, we expose fruitflies daily to 670 nm radiation, revealing elevated ATP and reduced inflammation with age. Critically, there was a significant increase in average lifespan: 100–175% more flies survived into old age following 670 nm exposure and these had significantly improved mobility. This may be a simple route to extending lifespan and improving function in old age.

Improving Mitochondrial Function Protects Bumblebees from Neonicotinoid Pesticides

“…Exposure to 670nm light had a positive impact on death rates in Imidacloprid treated bees as these were significantly reduced compared to Imidacloprid alone (P<0.001), but not different from controls (P<0.49). Treatment with 670nm on control bees also resulted in a significant improvement in survival over controls (P<0.01), similar to data from fruit flies exposed to this light [15], with around a 15% loss rate over the 10 days. Hence, 670nm exposure protected against Imidacloprid induced death.…”

“…Control bees exposed to 670nm alone maintained a significantly reduced rate of death over the entire recovery period in relation to the 3 other groups (P<0.001), demonstrating that 670nm light treatment had a sustained impact long after it was withdrawn. However, as with flies treated with 670nm light on a similar regime, it did not increase absolute life expectancy [15]. …”

“…670nm light is known to improve mitochondrial function that has declined with age and disease [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. Although there was an initial small drop in mobility in Imidacloprid exposed bees given 670nm light, these animals remained largely functional and able to groom and feed.…”

“…Similar impacts are found in insects. However, here in the relatively short lived Drosophila, 670nm light exposure significantly extends average lifespan and improves aged mobility as well as reducing age related inflammation and lifting ATP production in old flies [15]. As neonicotinoid insecticides undermine mitochondrial function and reduce mobility [2,3], we ask if exposure to such long wavelength light can be used to combat their toxic effects in bees.…”

Optical monitoring of retinal respiration in real time: 670 nm light increases the redox state of mitochondria

“…This in turn is associated with reduced retinal inflammation both in normal mice and those that are murine models of age related macular degeneration where inflammation appears early and is relatively aggressive (Kokkinopoulos et al., 2013, Begum et al., 2013, Catchpole et al., 2013). It has the same impact on aged drosophila, but here in this relatively short lived animal it also increases average lifespan (Begum et al., 2015) consistent with the mitochondrial theory of aging (Harman, 1981). …”