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Related Experiment Videos

Starvation in humans: evolutionary background and contemporary implications.

Andrew M Prentice1

  • 1MRC International Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK. Andrew.prentice@lshtm.ac.uk

Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
|May 24, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Caloric restriction (CR) shows promise for extending lifespan in animals, but human evidence is limited. Historical famines may have shaped human genetics, potentially linking energy-saving traits to longevity and aging.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Caloric restriction (CR) is known to extend lifespan in various species.
  • Human evidence linking CR to longevity is currently weak, relying on inductive reasoning.
  • Genetic factors contribute approximately 25% to human longevity variation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review historical evidence of famine as a selective pressure on the human genome.
  • To explore potential links between famine adaptation, energy-sparing mechanisms, and human longevity.
  • To assess the current state of knowledge regarding CR and human aging.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical data on the extent and frequency of human famines.
  • Analysis of genetic and evolutionary principles related to longevity and adaptation.

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  • Synthesis of existing, albeit limited, evidence on CR and human aging.

    • Main Results:

    • Starvation has been a significant selective pressure on the human genome.
    • Adaptive survival traits, many affecting reproduction, likely evolved in response to famine.
    • CR's association with human longevity may be an unintended consequence of these adaptations.

    Conclusions:

    • Human longevity may be influenced by adaptations to past famines.
    • The link between energy-sparing mechanisms and CR's effect on aging in humans remains speculative.
    • Further data is required to definitively establish the relationship between CR and human aging and longevity.