New research unfolds long-living secrets of the mouse lemur

The mouse lemurs of Madagascar are the world’s smallest primates. 

There are 22 species. Humans are primates so these little creatures are distant cousins of ours. Some weigh as little as 50 grams, but there’s something us aging Europeans might learn from them.

People in the West are living longer. Life expectancy doubled from 40 to 80 years in the last century and it’s rising by two to three years each decade. In 1997, Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment set a new longevity record of 122 years. A European’s chances of reaching the age of 65 are now 90%. Half of girls born in 2015 will celebrate their 100th birthday. Scientists are confident that somebody alive today will reach the age of 135. Keeping people active and healthy into old age is now a priority, not just for geriatricians but for economists and politicians. Mouse lemurs live up to six times as long as other creatures their size. Unlocking the secret of lemur longevity could help us face the challenges of aging.