Naked Mole Rats Exhibit Minimal Cardiac Aging

This study demonstrates that unlike mice that exhibit pronounced declines in body composition and cardiac function commencing shortly after sexual maturity, NMRs can maintain tissue homeostasis throughout their four-decade long maximum lifespan. Furthermore, NMRs do not show any signs of diastolic dysfunction or cardiac hypertrophy and maintain similar functional cardiac reserve capacity at advanced age to that exhibited when young adults, at the prime of life. Collectively, these data reveal that the naked mole-rat provides a proof-of-concept that age-related declines in body composition and cardiac function are not inevitable. Elucidating these mechanisms may lead to the discovery of therapies to reduce the burden of age-associated cardiovascular pathology, morbidity, and mortality and thereby enhance quality of life in older humans.
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs