Can ergothioneine (ERGO) supplementation promote longevity and prevent age-related impairments like frailty and cognitive decline in male mice?
Ergothioneine, an animal study (Geroscience 2024, PMID 38446314) — at 88 weeks of age, the ERGO group showed significantly lower age-related declines in weight, fat mass, and movement velocities compared to controls. The evidence comes from animals, not from people.
Source: Geroscience 2024, PMID 38446314 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: high
Geroscience · 2024 · PMID 38446314 · DOI 10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5
Daily ergothioneine supplementation extended lifespan and improved multiple markers of healthy aging in male mice.
The question
Can ergothioneine (ERGO) supplementation promote longevity and prevent age-related impairments like frailty and cognitive decline in male mice?
What they tested
The researchers hypothesized that daily oral supplementation of ERGO would extend lifespan and mitigate age-related impairments in male mice.
How they did it
Male mice were given daily oral supplementation of ERGO (4-5 mg/kg/day) dissolved in drinking water from 7 weeks of age until the end of their lives. Lifespan, frailty, and cognitive impairment were assessed. Additionally, the effects of ERGO on the lifespan and non-frailty span of Caenorhabditis elegans were investigated. Plasma biomarkers, hippocampal neurogenesis, TDP43 protein aggregation, and microglial phenotype were also examined.
What they found
ERGO supplementation remarkably extended the lifespan of male mice and increased the life and non-frailty spans of C. elegans. At 88 weeks of age, the ERGO group showed significantly lower age-related declines in weight, fat mass, and movement velocities compared to controls. ERGO suppressed age-related increases in plasma biomarkers such as chemokine ligand 9, creatinine, symmetric dimethylarginine, urea, asymmetric dimethylarginine, quinolinic acid, and kynurenine. ERGO also rescued age-related impairments in learning and memory, which was associated with suppressed decline in hippocampal neurogenesis, reduced TDP43 protein aggregation, and promotion of microglial M2 phenotype.
| ERGO Dose | 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| ERGO Dose | 5 |
Male mice ingested 4 to 5 mg/kg/day of ergothioneine.
What it means
Ingestion of ERGO may promote longevity and healthy aging in male mice, potentially through multiple biological mechanisms including improved physical parameters, reduced inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers, enhanced cognitive function, and beneficial effects on brain health.
Limitations
The study was conducted in male mice and Caenorhabditis elegans, so the findings may not directly translate to humans. The specific mechanisms underlying all observed effects require further elucidation.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Ergothioneine promotes longevity and healthy aging in male mice |
|---|---|
| Journal | Geroscience |
| Year | 2024 |
| PMID | 38446314 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5 ↗ |
| Topic | Brain, cognition & mood |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
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Ergothioneine (L-Ergo)
In humans, blood ergothioneine levels tend to fall with age, particularly after 60, and multiple observational and prospective studies link lower plasma ergothioneine to a higher risk of cognitive decline, dementia, cardiovascular disease, frailty and overall mortality;
Ergothioneine (L-ergothioneine, "L-Ergo") is a naturally occurring sulfur-containing amino acid (a…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Can ergothioneine (ERGO) supplementation promote longevity and prevent age-related impairments like frailty and cognitive decline in male mice? [Plain-English summary of Geroscience 2024, PMID 38446314, DOI 10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38446314.html@misc{magellan_d38446314,
title = {Can ergothioneine (ERGO) supplementation promote longevity and prevent age-related impairments like frailty and cognitive decline in male mice?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d38446314.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 38446314; DOI 10.1007/s11357-024-01111-5; Geroscience 2024. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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