Being cool: how body temperature influences ageing and longevity

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Physiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Temperature significantly impacts biological systems, influencing metabolism and aging rates.
• A long-held hypothesis suggests higher temperatures accelerate aging, while lower temperatures promote longevity.
• Recent research indicates a more complex interplay between temperature, aging, and life history traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on the effects of temperature on longevity, aging, and life history traits.
• To explore the relationship between temperature and lifespan across diverse organisms, from poikilotherms to homeotherms.
• To discuss the underlying mechanisms and species-specific variations in temperature-longevity correlations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing findings from wild populations and laboratory studies.
• Analysis of temperature effects on lifespan and aging across different animal groups.
• Examination of species-specific data, including mammals like humans and naked mole-rats.

Main Results:

• A general trend shows lower temperatures associated with longer lifespans in both wild and lab settings.
• Life-extending interventions like caloric restriction often lower core body temperature.
• The temperature-lifespan relationship can be complex and reversed in homeotherms, with neuroendocrine factors playing a role.

Conclusions:

• Lower body temperature is a significant factor contributing to extended longevity across many species.
• Neuroendocrine pathways mediate complex physiological responses to temperature, influencing aging.
• The naked mole-rat's exceptional longevity may be linked to its characteristically low body temperature.