Longevity and DHPS

Reduction in DHPS activity has been associated with biological aging, with the DHPS pathway being a key regulator of autophagy (2023 study). From this research, DHPS activation would be an attractive treatment to promote health-span and as a treatment of neurodegenerative disorders with dysfunctional autophagy such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease.

The DHPS Foundation is interested in collaborating with researchers developing therapeutics to boost or activate DHPS activity, as well as biomarkers for DHPS activity.

While the gene therapy that we are developing might have limited use outside of the ultrarare DHPS Deficiency disorder, our efforts to develop non-invasive biomarkers for DHPS activity and small molecule therapeutic activators might be better developed as part of collaborative efforts, and will benefit both the ultrarare disease and the aging field. If you are working in this space, please reach out to us.