Naked mole-rats, small rodents, live up to eighty times longer than comparable animals. They show hardly any signs of ageing, not even in their skin. This makes them particularly interesting to scientists who want to better understand how ageing works. Through this long lifespan, researchers hope to gain new insights that might also be useful for humans.
The skin of older naked mole-rats hardly ages, unlike that of mice and humans. This applies not only to appearance, but also to the structure and biochemical properties of the skin. Scientists are therefore thoroughly studying the differences in the skin of these animals. By understanding these differences, they can search more specifically for the causes of ageing.
An important component of skin ageing is the extracellular matrix. This is the network of proteins and substances surrounding the skin cells that provide structure and firmness. In naked mole-rats, this matrix appears to break down much less and stays youthful for longer. This contributes to maintaining healthy skin, even at an advanced age.
These studies help to better understand the causes of skin ageing, but also offer hope for broader applications. If we can discover why naked mole rats age so little, we may be able to develop new ways to reduce age-related ailments in humans. This is valuable for anyone who wants to age healthily.
Source: Reason
