Aging is accompanied by dysregulated nutrient sensing – insulin resistance, mTOR overactivation, and dampened autophagy are common. Cells in such a state are less responsive to reprogramming stimuli because they are in a “growth-lock” or “energy-deprived” paradox (plenty of nutrients but unable to utilize them efficiently). The Metabolic Optimization Formula seeks to reset cellular metabolism to a youthful, flexible state that is optimal for repair and reprogramming. By activating AMPK and modulating mTOR, it imitates the effects of caloric restriction or fasting at the cellular level – known longevity interventions that also happen to facilitate reprogramming-like changes (e.g., improved proteostasis, mitochondrial efficiency). This formula essentially preconditions cells metabolically for rejuvenation, analogous to how a healthy diet primes an individual to respond better to therapies.
