Naked Mole Rats and Human Health
Thomas Park, a professor in the biological sciences department, was recently interviewed by On Earth magazine regarding his and others' ongoing research on the longetivity of the naked mole rat. Data shows that throughout their lives, naked mole rats retain high levels of a brain protein that helps protect them from the damages associated with aging. This protein normally declines with age.
An understanding of how this protein can be retained could help humans fight diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer and other illnesses.
Modified on February 04, 2019