The Society Response to the NIA Monkey Study

[Paul McGlothin]

All,

 

 

I am pleased to let you know that The CR Society now provides a detailed response to the NIA monkey study. The University of Wisconsin and University of Maryland studies are also considered. The response can be accessed here:

 

 

http://www.crsociety.org/science/nia_monkey_study

 

 

Thanks to Al Pater and Richard Schulman for their contributions.

 

 

Rhesus monkeys used for longevity-related research become a laboratory artifact. Normally, their lifespan in the wild is only about four years. The longest lived animals in the NIA CR cohort have reached 40 years or more.

 

 

The animals live in small cages. They are allowed to move around, but exercise is not encouraged. Exercise deprivation is deleterious to health, e.g., it can cause gastrointestinal bloating and feces impaction. This can be lethal. As you can imagine, monkeys that aren’t exercising and whose bowels are impacted, don’t have much of an appetite. So both the controls and the CR cohort voluntarily reduced their food intake.

 

 

Socialization was also a factor. In the early years of some of the monkeys' lives, socialization was a focus of attention. However, when the monkeys developed into puberty, they began to fight. So the researchers decided to house them singly and did not allow them to be in contact with each other. Lack of socialization opportunities would have lasting physiological consequences and is discussed in the Society response.

 

 

Some animals developed a type of madness, known as stereotypy. This was seen among China-derived animals. A video of stereotypic behavior is provided.

 

 

The CR Society response is a work in progress. It is supported by CR Way blog posts and threads in this forum. As they become available, interviews with some of the study investigators and other experts will be posted.

 

 

As always, your comments are welcomed and appreciated.

 

 

Paul

 

Paul McGlothin

Vice president, Research

The CR Society, Intl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BrianMDelaney]

Paul and Meredith,

 

Thanks for taking the time to research and write this important response. Let's hope it is widely read. I look forward to hearing what the investigators have to say.

 

Brian

[Paul McGlothin]

Paul and Meredith,

 

Thanks for taking the time to research and write this important response. Let's hope it is widely read. I look forward to hearing what the investigators have to say.

 

Brian

 

Thanks, Brian. We have heard from the NIA researchers. They are aware of the media misinterpretations of their study. Expect more communications from them that will clarify their findings.

 

Paul