THE key to human longevity might just be found in a naked mole rat.

New research out of China has shed light on why the peculiar-looking animal can live for up to 40 years – about 10 times longer than similarly sized rodents.

Naked mole rats are resistant to cancer, deterioration of the brain and spinal cord, and arthritis, so naturally, they have been the subject of much scientific research.

According to the findings published in the journal Science, naked mole rats produce a DNA repair mechanism that could explain their longevity.

Normally, a DNA repair process called homologous recombination can be disrupted by an enzyme called cGAS, causing DNA damage and shorter lifespans, but naked mole rats have evolved a way to avoid this problem.

Researchers found that their version of cGAS has four special amino acid changes, which make the enzyme more stable and stop it from breaking down too quickly after DNA damage.

This allows it to work better with other repair proteins (like FANCI and RAD50), helping the mole rats fix their DNA more effectively and maintain their long lifespan.

By understanding how these creatures maintain their genetic integrity over decades, researchers may uncover new strategies for improving longevity in humans, reshaping our approach to aging-related diseases and therapies.

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