(July 3, 2012) High levels
of brain-protecting protein are unique in the rodent, says TAU researcher
Compared to
the average three year life span of a common rat, the 10 to 30 year life of the
naked mole rat, a subterranean rodent native to East Africa, is impressive. And
compared to the human body, the body of this rodent shows little decline due to
aging, maintaining high activity, bone health, reproductive capacity, and
cognitive ability throughout its lifetime. Now a collaborative of researchers
in Israel and the United States is working to uncover the secret to the small
mammal's long — and active — lifespan.