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Review
. 2024 Oct;46(5):4003-4015.
doi: 10.1007/s11357-024-01158-4. Epub 2024 Apr 20.

How does a fly die? Insights into ageing from the pathophysiology of Drosophila mortality

Eliano Dos Santos  1   2 , Helena M Cochemé  3   4
Affiliations
Review

How does a fly die? Insights into ageing from the pathophysiology of Drosophila mortality

Eliano Dos Santos et al. Geroscience. 2024 Oct.

Abstract

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a common animal model in ageing research. Large populations of flies are used to study the impact of genetic, nutritional and pharmacological interventions on survival. However, the processes through which flies die and their relative prevalence in Drosophila populations are still comparatively unknown. Understanding the causes of death in an animal model is essential to dissect the lifespan-extending interventions that are organism- or disease-specific from those broadly applicable to ageing. Here, we review the pathophysiological processes that can lead to fly death and discuss their relation to ageing.

Keywords: Drosophila; Ageing; Death; Lifespan; Pathology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Scheme highlighting a range of physiological systems and organs that undergo age-related decline and are implicated in the pathophysiology of Drosophila mortality (created with BioRender.com)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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