Taking out the trash is a chore that even our cells cannot escape. Through a process known as autophagy, they place misshapen proteins and other cellular garbage in biological containers to digest them into their molecular building blocks.

Autophagy is designed to prevent the buildup of waste that causes cellular damage. A decline in this cellular recycling process is considered one of the hallmarks of aging and is associated with many age-related diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegeneration.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute published findings in Aging Cell adding new wrinkles to our understanding of the links between aging and autophagy.