Protocol for assessing the healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans after potential anti-aging drug treatment

Abstract

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been developed as a valuable genetic model for research on aging and aging-related diseases. Here, we present a protocol for assessing the healthspan of C. elegans after treatment of a potential anti-aging drug. We describe steps for C. elegans synchronization, drug treatment, and lifespan determination from the survivorship curve. We also detail assessment of locomotory ability through body bend rate and measurement of lipofuscin fluorescence to quantify age pigment in the worm intestine. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Xiao et al. (2022).1

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