Lower oxygen at high altitudes increases lifespan in ageing mice

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Health

Context:

The lower oxygen content at high altitudes increases lifespan significantly in ageing mice, according to a study published in PLOS Biology.

Details of the study:

The study shows that oxygen restriction, or continuous hypoxia, can extend lifespan in an ageing mammal.
Naked mole rat: A rodent that spends most of its life in an oxygen-deficient burrow with a lifespan much longer than scientists have been able to predict based on its size or evolutionary history.
Caloric restriction, or dietary restriction without malnutrition is the gold standard for increasing lifespan in diverse species like yeast, roundworms, fruit flies, mice, and rats.
The animals housed in hypoxic conditions also displayed better neurologic function than their counterparts living in normoxic conditions (normal oxygen conditions).
The mechanism by which hypoxia extends lifespan in mammals is still unknown to researchers.

Significance of the study:

The study provides valuable insights into the potential of hypoxia to enhance healthy lifespan.
Ageing is a highly complex phenomenon, involving numerous molecular mediators. Hypoxia may not target many aspects of ageing since it doesn’t affect the expression of a gene (p21) that’s an important marker of ageing.
Applicability to humans:
- There is no evidence of its applicability to the human population and there is no evidence that people living at high altitudes have a longer maximal lifespan, but there are some clues that the median lifespan might be increased at higher altitudes.