When it comes to longevity in the animal kingdom, the Naked mole-rat is often touted as one of the longest living animals known to man, and some say that they functionally do not age, only ever dying of disease or predation. In this article we will investigate these claims, and discover what exactly is so exciting about these aesthetically challenged rodents which has made so many researchers so optimistic about the future of human longevity.

Are Naked Mole-Rats Immortal?

Let’s dispel one of the largest misconceptions about naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) before we dive into what makes these rodents so interesting. No, naked mole-rats are not immortal in any sense of the word. First documented in 1,842 by German naturalist Eduard Rüppell, we have formally studied this species of rodent for over 180 years, and we have yet to see any immortal naked-mole rats running around, in the wild or otherwise. Neither have we seen a naked mole-rat coming close to the longevity enjoyed by our own species, let alone the longevity enjoyed by other longer lived species such as the giant tortoise. However, it is not the lifespan itself that is so remarkable about the naked mole-rat, but rather its relative longevity compared to other rodents that makes the naked mole-rat so interesting.

“Proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life.”

It is an indisputable fact that drinking water is beneficial for our health. In addition to its contribution to metabolism, it also plays an important role in keeping the skin moist. According to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) new study, drinking water also links people to age in a healthy way.

As stated in the release, researchers looked at the relationship between several health markers and blood salt levels, which rise when fluid intake declines. The study included health information acquired from 11,255 participants over a 30-year period.

Rawpixel/iStock.

They discovered that, compared to adults with serum sodium levels in the middle of the normal range, those with serum sodium levels at the higher end of the range were more likely to acquire chronic illnesses and exhibit symptoms of advanced biological aging. Adults with higher levels had an increased risk of passing away earlier in life.

Summary: Study finds a link between poor hydration in adults and an increased risk of chronic health conditions and advanced biological aging.

Source: NIH

Adults who stay well-hydrated appear to be healthier, develop fewer chronic conditions, such as heart and lung disease, and live longer than those who may not get sufficient fluids, according to a National Institutes of Health study published in eBioMedicine. .

Year 2011 face_with_colon_three

It was only a year ago that ACell’s “miracle powder” was sprinkled on amputated fingers and shown to stimulate the regeneration of fingertips. The world was both awed and skeptical of the powder’s regenerative power, touting that it would revolutionize regenerative medicine or calling it was quack science.

A fingertip is one thing. A thigh, quite another.

After losing most of his thigh muscle in a battlefield explosion, one marine was given a second chance when another such miracle powder caused much of his thigh to grow back. It’s not only a wonderful feel-good story, but demonstrating that the same substance can grow back different tissues suggests that we may have only seen a small part of its full regenerative potential.

“Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential is an attractive explanation for the complex dysfunctions of aging.”

University of Washington School of Medicine researchers’ experiment on C.elegans.

Roundworms, which have an average lifespan of just two to three weeks, are frequently used in aging studies… More.

National Science Foundation.

As part of their research on aging, the team is interested in learning how to modulate mitochondrial activity directly. The energy centers inside living cells are called mitochondria. Among their numerous essential roles, they are vital for cellular respiration and energy production, as per the release.

Cutting-edge technologies are revealing the intricacies of human ageing and sparking research into drugs to slow it, or even reverse it.