Polyamines such as spermidine and putrescine are known to promote autophagy and longevity in fruit flies. Similar to many other organisms, Drosophila also display age-induced memory impairment. Here, Gupta et al. find that a decrease in brain polyamines in aging Drosophila is correlated with age-dependent memory impairment. They also find that polyamines in flies' diet can alleviate this impairment, demonstrating a link between polyamines, autophagy and memory decline.
- Varun K Gupta
- Lisa Scheunemann
- Stephan J Sigrist
