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Updated: Dec 8, 2025
06:58
Frailty Assessment in an Aging Mouse Model
Published on: September 23, 2025
254
Multi-system physiological dysregulation and ageing in a subsistence population.
Thomas S Kraft1, Jonathan Stieglitz2, Benjamin C Trumble3
1Integrative Anthropological Sciences Unit, Department of Anthropology, University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Summary
Human physiological dysregulation increases with age, similar to other primates. This study examined Tsimane forager-horticulturalists, revealing conserved ageing patterns across diverse lifestyles.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Human Biology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Humans exhibit exceptionally long post-reproductive lifespans and slow actuarial aging compared to other primates.
- Understanding physiological changes during aging is crucial for extending human healthspan.
- Age-related physiological dysregulation is known in industrialized populations but less understood in subsistence communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age trajectories of physiological condition in Tsimane forager-horticulturalists.
- To characterize human physiological dysregulation across multiple biological systems.
- To compare human aging patterns with other primates and industrialized populations.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 40 biomarkers across immune, cardiometabolic, and musculoskeletal systems in Tsimane individuals.
- Utilized mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal data from 22,115 observations.
- Applied a multi-system index of physiological dysregulation (Mahalanobis distance) to assess age-related changes.
Main Results:
- A robust increase in physiological dysregulation with age was observed in the Tsimane population (β = 0.17–0.18).
- The rate of dysregulation in Tsimane was marginally faster than in an industrialized Western sample but slower than in non-human primates.
- Minimal sex differences in the pace or level of physiological dysregulation were found among the Tsimane.
Conclusions:
- Human physiological dysregulation shows conserved patterns, suggesting species-typical somatic aging.
- Age-related physiological changes occur despite variations in lifestyle and environment.
- Findings contribute to understanding the evolution of primate aging processes.
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