Genes That Change How Long Mice Live — And How Body Weight Affects It
Genetic Modulation of Lifespan: Dynamic Effects, Sex Differences, and Body Weight Trade-offs
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at thousands of mice to find genes that affect how long they live, and they discovered that some genes only matter at certain ages or in one sex. They also found that being heavier when young makes male mice live shorter lives, but being heavier when old means living longer.
Surprising Findings
Some genes have opposite effects on lifespan depending on age—protective early, harmful later (or vice versa).
Most people assume genes have fixed roles—either 'longevity genes' or 'risk genes'—but this shows they can switch sides like political rivals.
Practical Takeaways
Maintaining a healthy weight in early adulthood may be especially important for men’s longevity.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Scientists looked at thousands of mice to find genes that affect how long they live, and they discovered that some genes only matter at certain ages or in one sex. They also found that being heavier when young makes male mice live shorter lives, but being heavier when old means living longer.
Surprising Findings
Some genes have opposite effects on lifespan depending on age—protective early, harmful later (or vice versa).
Most people assume genes have fixed roles—either 'longevity genes' or 'risk genes'—but this shows they can switch sides like political rivals.
Practical Takeaways
Maintaining a healthy weight in early adulthood may be especially important for men’s longevity.
Publication
Journal
bioRxiv
Year
2025
Authors
Danny Arends, D. Ashbrook, Suheeta Roy, Lu Lu, Zachary Sloan, Arthur G. Centeno, Kurt H. Lamour, J. de Magalhães, Pjotr Prins, Karl W. Broman, Ś. Sen, Sarah J Mitchell, Michael R MacArthur, Özlem Altintas Akin, Johan Auwerx, Amandeep Bajwa, Vivian Diaz, David E. Harrison, Randy Strong, James F. Nelson, K. Mozhui, Evan G. Williams, Richard A. Miller, Robert W. Williams
Related Content
Claims (6)
Your genes might play a role in when you die — not just from diseases, but in how long you naturally live.
In mice, the genes that affect how long they live work differently in males and females — many of the gene interactions are totally separate between the sexes.
In mice with different genes, scientists found 29 specific gene spots that affect how long they live — but these genes act differently depending on whether the mouse is young or old, and whether it's male or female. Some genes only matter at certain life stages, and some even switch from helping to hurting (or vice versa) as the mouse ages.
In male mice, being heavier as a young adult is linked to a shorter life — each extra gram might take away up to 14 days. This effect is much stronger in males than in females, suggesting their genes handle weight and aging differently.
In mice, certain genes seem to link being heavier early in life to a shorter life, especially in males — but being heavier later in life is actually linked to living longer, showing that the effect of weight on lifespan changes with age and sex.