"There's really good evidence from mice studies that it can delay aging, and for a long life. "Rapamycin has been used for a long time as a drug for organ transplant patients to prevent rejection," Smith said. One ambitious effort, the Dog Aging Project, is examining the "life experiences" of pet pooches over a 10-year period to "identify the biological, environmental, and genetic factors that promote healthy longevity," Smith reported.Ī small subset of the more than 40,000 dogs enrolled are undergoing a clinical trial of rapamycin, one of the most promising candidates for a human longevity drug. "You can do studies with dogs and really get answers about the effect on lifespan, life expectancy and longevity in a matter of years, whereas you did the same studies with people, it would take you decades," Smith said. SEE ALSO: No downsides to intermittent fasting, science says Then, promising studies with simple organisms like worms and fruit flies and later mice produced ample evidence that aging can be delayed and life can be prolonged in these creatures, Smith said. Smith explored the science behind canine longevity - and what humans can learn from this research - for NatGeo's new "Mind, Body, Wonder" series.įor years, scientists were convinced that aging was not reversible. "Dogs are great models for figuring out why humans decline over time," National Geographic contributing writer Fran Smith told ABC OTV. You can't teach an old dog new tricks, but some scientists hope dogs can teach humans about the process of getting old - and how, maybe, we can reverse it. Many scientists say that aging is reversible - and believe that dogs are great models for figuring out why humans decline over time.
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