The secret to a healthier and “younger” heart lies in the vagus nerve. A recent study coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and published in Science Translational Medicine has shown that preserving bilateral cardiac vagal innervation is an anti-aging factor. In particular, the right cardiac vagus nerve emerges as a true guardian of cardiomyocyte health, helping to preserve the longevity of the heart independently of heart rate.

The study is characterized by a strongly multidisciplinary approach, integrating experimental medicine and bioengineering applied to cardiovascular research. Specifically, the research was led by the Translational Critical Care Unit (TrancriLab) of the Interdisciplinary Research Center Health Science, under the responsibility of Professor Vincenzo Lionetti, and by the laboratory of the Biorobotics Institute led by Professor Silvestro Micera, which contributed to the development of the bioabsorbable nerve conduit used to facilitate vagal regeneration.

The study involved a broad network of Italian and international institutions of excellence, including the Scuola Normale Superiore, the University of Pisa, the Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, the Institute of Clinical Physiology of the CNR, the University of Udine, GVM Care & Research, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Leibniz Institute on Ageing in Jena and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

This year quietly rewired how researchers think about aging, what truly predicts long-term health, and which biohacking ideas deserve serious attention versus skepticism. From brain aging to muscle strength, from AI-driven drug discovery to cooling hype around supplements, 2025 redrew the map of healthspan science.

Here’s the clear-eyed recap of what actually mattered.

Isting gap in neuromorphic engineering by mimicking biological neuron dynamics and realizing effective clinical applications to promote functional recovery and quality of life enhancement in patients with brain injury. The novel neuromorphic engineering approaches leverage the dynamic behavior of brain neurons, incorporating electronic circuits that emulate neuronal dynamics. A basic configuration involves a neural model designed to mimic the dynamics of a living neuron, with the potential to replace damaged brain tissue when implanted, thus restoring signal propagation. An enhanced configuration integrates a closed-loop system, wherein the feedback signal from biological neurons synchronizes the artificial neuron with its living counterpart, allowing continuous self-adjustment of system parameters and promoting a neuro-autogenerative regime.