Slow mortality rate accelerations during aging in some animals approximate that of humans - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comparative Study

. 1990 Aug 24;249(4971):902-5.

doi: 10.1126/science.2392680.

Affiliations

Comparative Study

Slow mortality rate accelerations during aging in some animals approximate that of humans

C E Finch et al. Science. 1990.

Abstract

A general measure of the rate of senescence is the acceleration of mortality rate, represented here by the time required for the mortality rate to double (MRD). Rhesus monkeys have an MRD close to that of humans, about 8 years; their shorter life-span results mainly from higher mortality at all ages. In contrast, some groups with short life-spans (rodents and galliform birds) have shorter MRDs and faster senescence. On the basis of the Gompertz mortality rate model, one may estimate the MRD from the maximum life-span (tmax) and the overall population mortality rate. Such calculations show that certain birds have MRDs that are as long as that of humans. These results show that high overall mortality rates or small body sizes do not preclude slow rates of senescence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources