Title | Measures of Healthspan as Indices of Aging in Mice-A Recommendation. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Richardson A, Fischer KE, Speakman JR, de Cabo R, Mitchell SJ, Peterson CA, Rabinovitch P, Chiao YA, Taffet G, Miller RA, Rentería RC, Bower J, Ingram DK, Ladiges WC, Ikeno Y, Sierra F, Austad SN |
Journal | J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci |
Volume | 71 |
Issue | 4 |
Pagination | 427-30 |
Date Published | 2016 Apr |
ISSN | 1758-535X |
Keywords | Aging, Animals, Female, Humans, Longevity, Male, Mice, Models, Animal, Quality of Life, Sex Factors, Translational Medical Research |
Abstract | Over the past decade, a large number of discoveries have shown that interventions (genetic, pharmacological, and nutritional) increase the lifespan of invertebrates and laboratory rodents. Therefore, the possibility of developing antiaging interventions for humans has gone from a dream to a reality. However, it has also become apparent that we need more information than just lifespan to evaluate the translational potential of any proposed antiaging intervention to humans. Information is needed on how an intervention alters the "healthspan" of an animal, that is, how the physiological functions that change with age are altered. In this report, we describe the utility and the limitations of assays in mice currently available for measuring a wide range of physiological functions that potentially impact quality of life. We encourage investigators and reviewers alike to expect at minimum an overall assessment of health in several domains across several ages before an intervention is labeled as "increasing healthspan." In addition, it is important that investigators indicate any tests in which the treated group did worse or did not differ statistically from controls because overall health is a complex phenotype, and no intervention discovered to date improves every aspect of health. Finally, we strongly recommend that functional measurements be performed in both males and females so that sex differences in the rate of functional decline in different domains are taken into consideration. |
DOI | 10.1093/gerona/glv080 |
Alternate Journal | J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. |
PubMed ID | 26297941 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC4834833 |
Grant List | R01 AG019899 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R24 AG047115 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 AG022307 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U01 AG022303 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG024824 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P30 AG013319 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States T32 AG000057 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |