The study of lemurs has long fascinated scientists, and a recent research breakthrough by biological anthropologist Elaine Guevara is shedding new light on the primate’s remarkable ability to age without inflammation. This phenomenon, known as “inflammaging,” is a widespread issue in humans, leading to health problems such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Guevara’s research focused on ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs, two species that differ in their life pacing and lifespan. By studying these primates, Guevara aimed to understand why they avoid the inevitability of inflammaging observed in humans. Her findings were surprising: neither species showed age-related changes in markers of oxidative stress or inflammation. In fact, ring-tailed lemurs even exhibited marginal declines in inflammation with age.

This discovery, consistent with recent studies on other non-human primates, suggests that inflamaging is not a universal feature of primates, and perhaps not even a universal feature of humans. Christine Drea, a professor of evolutionary anthropology who worked alongside Guevara, notes that this study points to differences in aging between humans and lemurs.

As we grow older, low-grade chronic inflammation sets in, causing a range of health problems. Understanding why inflamaging increases with age in humans, what causes it, and how it can be prevented is critical information for unlocking ways to help humans live longer and healthier lives. Guevara’s study serves as the first step in unraveling these questions.

The next step for Guevara and her team is to conduct similar research on lemurs in their natural habitat. This will provide valuable insights into how aging can differ between captivity and the wild, and whether inflamaging is intrinsic or environmental.

With a rapidly aging global population, these findings are essential for mitigating disability and improving quality of life in later years. Guevara’s breakthrough study offers new hope that we may be able to learn from lemurs’ remarkable ability to age without inflammation, leading to better health outcomes for humans worldwide.

A groundbreaking new study has shed light on the surprising link between hearing loss, loneliness, and lifespan. Researchers from the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery found that adults with hearing loss who used hearing aids or cochlear implants were more socially engaged and felt less isolated compared to those who didn’t use them.

The study, published in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, is the first to link hearing aids and cochlear implants to improved social lives among adults with hearing loss. The researchers conducted a comprehensive review of 65 previously published studies, encompassing over five thousand participants, on how hearing aids and cochlear implants affect three key measures: social quality of life, perceived social handicap, and loneliness.

The findings suggest that hearing devices can help prevent the social disconnection and broader health consequences that can follow untreated hearing loss. When left unaddressed, hearing loss can make communication difficult, leading people to withdraw from conversations and social activities. This can lead to mental stimulation reduction, increased risk of loneliness, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and dementia.

The researchers found that adults using hearing devices feel more socially connected and less limited in social situations. They are better able to engage in group conversations and feel more at ease in noisy or challenging listening environments. Participants also reported feeling less socially handicapped by their hearing loss, with fewer barriers and frustrations during interactions and an improved ability to stay engaged without feeling excluded.

Those with cochlear implants reported the most improvement in their social quality of life, likely because cochlear implants offer greater hearing restoration than hearing aids, especially for individuals with more severe hearing loss. As a result, they may experience more noticeable improvements in social engagement once their hearing is restored.

While it was outside the scope of the study to measure how better social lives relate to improved cognitive outcomes, the researchers believe there may be a connection. Previous research has found managing hearing loss may be key to reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The study’s lead researcher, Janet Choi, MD, MPH, an otolaryngologist with Keck Medicine, believes that by restoring clearer communication, hearing devices may help preserve cognitive health by keeping the brain more actively involved and people more connected.

This research follows a January 2024 study by Choi showing that adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids have an almost 25% lower risk of mortality, suggesting that treating hearing loss can improve lifespan as well as social quality of life. These findings add to a growing body of research showing that hearing health is deeply connected to overall well-being.

The study of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has long focused on understanding its symptoms and how they impact patients. However, a new discovery has shed light on a critical aspect of the disease: the subtle behaviors that can indicate its progression. Researchers from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology have made a groundbreaking find that could revolutionize how we diagnose and treat PD.

Midbrain dopamine neurons play a vital role in regulating movement, emotion, and reward processing. Dysfunction in these neurons is directly linked to PD. However, previous research has primarily concentrated on their functions in mood regulation and reward mechanisms. The new study aims to close this knowledge gap by investigating the role of dopamine neurons in more subtle and spontaneous behaviors.

The researchers employed a machine learning-enhanced three-dimensional analysis system to examine detailed motor behaviors in two mouse models of dopamine neuron depletion: an MPTP-induced PD model and an AAV-mediated DA neuron loss model. This innovative approach enabled them to capture nuanced behavioral features that traditional methods might overlook.

One significant finding was the association between subtle behaviors such as rearing, walking, and hunching with the loss of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopamine neurons. These behaviors were not correlated with the ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons. The results suggest that these behaviors can serve as key behavioral biomarkers for SNc DA neuron loss.

Moreover, researchers observed notable behavioral lateralization in PD mice and confirmed that climbing behavior was also strongly correlated with the loss of DA neurons in the SNc. These findings highlight the significance of rearing behavior and behavioral lateralization as potential markers for tracking PD progression.

The study’s lead researcher, Prof. Xuemei Liu, emphasized the importance of connecting behavioral changes to targeted neural damage in understanding PD progression and improving treatment strategies. This groundbreaking discovery opens doors to new research avenues and may ultimately aid in developing more effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease patients.