In male grey mouse lemurs, eating 30% fewer calories over a long period leads to fewer deaths from age-related diseases like cancer and kidney disease compared to lemurs that eat normally.
See the scientific wording
Chronic 30% caloric restriction in male grey mouse lemurs reduces the incidence of age-related diseases such as cancer and chronic nephritis, resulting in 33.3% of deaths attributable to these conditions compared to 73.3% in control animals.
Correlational — new studies may shift this
Randomized trialsOne low-scoring study links this claim to the outcome, but causation is not established.
What the research says
1 study reviewedSupporting (1)
Caloric restriction increases lifespan but affects brain integrity in grey mouse lemur primates
Cohort StudyAnimal2018
Male mouse lemurs that ate 30% less food lived longer and got fewer serious diseases like cancer and kidney problems compared to those eating normally. So, eating less helped them stay healthier as they aged.
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting studies found yet
That doesn't mean it's settled — it just means no study has tested the opposite.
Quality-weighted scoring: we follow the GRADE framework — each study is rated High, Moderate, Low, or Very Low based on study design, methodology rigor, and risk of bias. A single high-quality RCT can outweigh several weaker observational studies.
Scores reflect study quality, not just count.
Eating less food lowers the body's energy use, which reduces harmful byproducts from metabolism and decreases inflammation. This protects organs like the kidneys and prevents abnormal cell growth, so fewer animals develop cancer or kidney disease as they age.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting study
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In male grey mouse lemurs, eating 30% fewer calories over a long period leads to fewer deaths from age-related diseases like cancer and kidney disease compared to lemurs that eat normally.
Mechanism
1 studyEating less food slows down the body's energy use, which cuts down on harmful chemicals and inflammation. This protects organs like the kidneys and stops abnormal cell growth, so fewer animals get cancer or kidney disease as they get older.
Eating less food lowers the body's energy use, which reduces harmful byproducts from metabolism and decreases inflammation. This protects organs like the kidneys and prevents abnormal cell growth, so fewer animals develop cancer or kidney disease as they age.
Chronic 30% caloric restriction lowers systemic metabolic rate and reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production
Reduced oxidative stress decreases DNA damage, protein oxidation, and lipid peroxidation in peripheral tissues
Lower oxidative burden suppresses chronic activation of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, including NF-κB and cytokine production
Reduced inflammation and DNA damage inhibit abnormal cell proliferation and fibrotic remodeling in organs such as the kidney and liver
Suppressed tissue damage and cellular dysfunction decrease the incidence of neoplastic and degenerative pathologies, including cancer and chronic nephritis
Less supported by current evidence, but not ruled out
Reduced food intake causes certain brain areas to lose nerve cells faster, even as other parts of the brain stay structurally intact. This trade-off does not affect lifespan or disease resistance but alters brain structure.
Caloric restriction alters neurotrophic signaling and reduces nutrient availability to neurons in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex
Neurons in these regions undergo atrophy, dendritic retraction, or reduced synaptic maintenance
Accelerated loss of grey matter volume occurs in cortical and limbic regions without affecting white matter integrity
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Male mouse lemurs that ate 30% less food lived longer and got fewer serious diseases like cancer and kidney problems compared to those eating normally. So, eating less helped them stay healthier as they aged.
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Score Breakdown
No multi-axis breakdown available yet. The overall Pro / Against score above is the best signal.
- No clinical evidence is available; the score reflects mechanistic plausibility only.
What Would Prove This
Per GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this claim, ordered from strongest to weakest.
Systematic Review of Caloric Restriction Effects on Age-Related Disease Incidence and Mortality in Male Grey Mouse Lemurs
Systematic review and meta-analysis of all controlled longitudinal studies in male grey mouse lemurs comparing chronic 30% caloric restriction to ad libitum feeding, with recorded incidence of cancer, chronic nephritis, and cause-specific mortality
Randomized Controlled Trial of 30% Caloric Restriction vs Ad Libitum Feeding on Age-Related Disease Incidence in Male Grey Mouse Lemurs
Randomized assignment of male grey mouse lemurs to either 30% caloric restriction or ad libitum feeding, blinded outcome assessment over lifespan, with incidence of cancer, chronic nephritis, and cause-specific mortality as primary outcomes
Longitudinal Cohort Study of Caloric Intake and Age-Related Disease Mortality in Male Grey Mouse Lemurs
Prospective observation of two cohorts of male grey mouse lemurs—one with 30% caloric restriction and one with ad libitum feeding—tracking disease incidence and cause of death over their natural lifespan
Case-Control Study Comparing Historical Caloric Intake in Male Grey Mouse Lemurs Dying from Cancer or Chronic Nephritis vs Survivors
Retrospective comparison of caloric intake history in male grey mouse lemurs that died from cancer or chronic nephritis (cases) versus those that died from other causes or survived to old age (controls)
Single-Center Observational Study of Caloric Restriction and Age-Related Disease in Male Grey Mouse Lemurs
Observational study in a single colony of male grey mouse lemurs comparing disease incidence and mortality between groups with and without chronic 30% caloric restriction, without randomization or blinding