Scientists from the University of Michigan celebrated 4 years since his birth, which corresponds to 136 human years. Finding the chemicals responsible for mouse aging will contribute to postponing human health problems by 20 years
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These days, scientists are celebrating the birthday of the oldest mouse in the world - a dwarf mouse named Yoda, who turned four on Saturday, an age equivalent to 136 human years. The average lifespan of laboratory mice is a little over two years. Some mice reached almost five years of age, but Yoda is the first mouse whose food is unlimited in calories.
"It would surprise me if he lived beyond another six months, but one can hope," said Dr. Richard Miller, deputy director of the Geriatric Center at the University of Michigan Medical School, where Yoda grew up. "We don't want to give him the evil eye. A 90- or 100-year-old person only has a period of time of about one more year," he added.
Dwarf mice often need the constant company of a larger mouse. According to Dr. Miller, without a "nursing mouse" to keep them warm, the dwarf mice freeze to death - but their size helps them avoid old age diseases until a very late stage. While an old mouse of another breed may develop arthritis or cancer, a dwarf mouse born at the same time may enjoy the health of a middle-aged mouse.
Dr. Miller said that by testing the hormonal changes in dwarf mice, the scientists may be able to delay the aging process in humans as well. "The idea is to find out what the chemicals are responsible for, so that problems that people in their 60s or 70s are now facing will be postponed for about 20 or 30 years," he added.
For the news in the New York Times
