View source for Brief:The Genetic Secrets That Help Some Animals Defy Aging

Aging brings many changes to our bodies, like weaker muscles, gray hair, and sagging skin, but it also affects our cells, increasing the risk of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes. Aging happens because living produces molecular damage that builds up over time. However, some species, including humans, age more slowly and can live long, healthy lives.

Mammals show huge differences in lifespan. Tiny forest shrews live only one or two years, while bowhead whales can live over 200 years. Humans live much longer than chimpanzees, our closest relatives. Bigger animals often live longer because they resist predators and stress better. But size isn’t everything. Some small animals, like Brandt’s bats and naked mole rats, live surprisingly long because they avoid predators and use energy more efficiently.

Scientists believe lifespan is linked to how much energy a species spends maintaining its body. Short-lived animals, like mice, spend little energy on repair because predators are likely to catch them early. Long-lived species, like mole rats, whales, and elephants, survive longer and can invest more in maintaining healthy cells.

Genetics also play a key role. Long-lived species accumulate cellular damage more slowly and have genes that help prevent cancer. For example, naked mole rats, blind mole rats, elephants, and whales have genetic traits that reduce cancer risk. Researchers have also discovered that activating the “pluripotency network,” which allows cells to regenerate like embryonic cells, helps extend lifespan.

Scientists use tools like the “epigenetic clock” to measure aging in mammals by tracking chemical markers on genes. In long-lived species, these markers change slowly, meaning their biological clocks tick more slowly. Studying these processes helps researchers understand why some species live longer and may guide future antiaging strategies for humans and other animals.{{Brief}}