Mystery of why humans die around 80 may finally be solved

[Zorro]

The mystery of why humans die at around 80, while other mammals live far shorter or longer lives, may finally have been solved by scientists.

Humans and animals die after amassing a similar number of genetic mutations, researchers have found, suggesting the speed of DNA errors is critical in determining the lifespan of a species.

There are huge variations in the lifespan of mammals in the animal kingdom, from South Asian rats, which live for just six months, to bowhead whales, which can survive for 200 years.

Previously experts have suggested that size is the key to longevity, with smaller animals burning up energy more quickly, requiring a faster cell turnover, which causes a speedier decline.

https://news.yahoo.com/mystery-why-humans-die-around-173539273.html

[dutch777]

1. And I thought it was just how many bad Presidents we could stand. Love science!

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. speed of DNA errors a new way at looking at aging.

What's creating the DNA errors? And what happens when the errors collect? Did Reality cause this?

[SheilaAnn]

3. Yikes, I'll be 82 in JULY, hoping all cells are in good working order. I feel great..LOL. n/t

[drray23]

4. interesting but it's not a new finding.

Scientists have known for decades that somatic mutations in DNA is the limiting factor.

Apparently what this research group has accomplished is that
they are using the latest DNA sequencing techniques to deepen the understanding and perform systematic studies.

Dr Inigo Martincorena, the senior author of the study, said: “Ageing is a complex process, the result of multiple forms of molecular damage in our cells and tissues.

“Somatic mutations have been speculated to contribute to ageing since the 1950s, but studying them has remained difficult.

“With the recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies, we can finally investigate the roles that somatic mutations play in ageing and in multiple diseases.”

[reACTIONary]

22. +10 nt

[Rebl2]

5. I'm in

big trouble then. I’m 4’11 and weigh 80lbs.

[slightlv]

16. I always thought smaller and we lived longer?

I'm 4'9 and 1/2". Weight at 90. I thought I was doing pretty good for the longevity stuff... not sure I really wanted to, with the way the world was going, and having lost two of my dear, dear cats in the last month... one was 20 and the other 24 years old. I have another cat who's turned 20 and still seems to be in good health. Got a check up for her in 2 weeks, just to be on the safe side. I go in to the doc every three months. I have fibro and lupus. Maybe that'll count against me on the longevity issues... I would like to stay around long enough to see if the Age of Aquarius ever dawns to the glorious future we envisioned back in the 60's and 70's. I so would like to see love rule the day for once.

[Rebl2]

17. Ok this is odd

You have fibro and lupus and go to the doctor every three months. A Rheumatologist? I have rheumatoid and go every three months. I thought smaller meant healthier too for many years. The last several years though I keep reading the opposite. I am actually surprised I am still here. When I was about twenty the rheumatologist I went to at that time told me I wouldn’t live as long as others my age because of my RA. Kind of a lousy thing to tell a twenty year old. No explanation given and I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say. I changed doctors several years later when a woman came into the practice.

[slightlv]

18. No doc should ever tell a 20 yr old they won't live as long

because of RA! For one thing, modern medicine changes every year! I originally had a female doc who was horrible. I think part of it was a language barrier. She pushed hydroxychloroquine at me and then gave all the warnings and that went away. Didn't even tell me what lupus WAS. Didn't even explain that it was an autoimmune disease! All I knew was I wasn't going to fill the script she gave me. I needed my eyes for computer work... it's how I made my living! Found another doc. He diagnosed Fibro. I gave up and just lived reading up on both and treating myself with good living, good food, herbs and vitamins, and a the same primary care doc I'd had for 30 years (who was female and knew I read everything I could get my hands on... and was smart but not crazy.). Years later, I knew the pain and symptoms had progressed beyond what she and I could handle and she advised I call again for rheumatologists and lo and behold, I came up with the same name as the second doc (the fibro guy) I went to. I took it as the Universe giving me a sign. He and I have a very good relationship. He showed me the differences, how I do have markers for Lupus, but I also have all 15 markers for Fibro, and it's giving me more trouble than the Lupus right now. I also have bad arthritis in my hands (probably due to all the keyboarding thru the years), as well as Reynaud's disease.

Thing is, I ain't giving up on me, and neither should you! WE know our bodies better than these doctors. What got me thru those years was an excellent primary care physician who got reminded several times a year to do blood tests for several markers I knew were important... like vitamin D. Both Lupus and Fibro rob you of Vitamin D. She was amazed and alarmed when she first found out how much Vitamin D I was taking. But when my D levels came back, vis a vis the prior levels, she said whatever you're doing, keep doing it, you obviously know best. But I had an ace in the hole. I had a good girlfriend who'd already done so much homework and shared it with me. She had MS... and our symptoms were so similar at that time. Autoimmune disease is horrible, no matter what it is... and no matter what size you are!!!!!

Did you end up having to take an early retirement? I did... even tho everything I did at work I did on a stupid WiFi computer, which was 3x as slow as my WiFi here at home. I had a manager who was one of these "if yer butt's not in the seat, yer not working" types. God I hate old style management types. It's not like you couldn't see, minute by minute, what and how much I was working on, for god's sake! I was creating and uploading distance learning material for overseas reservists in Afghanistan!!!

[Rebl2]

20. No he should

not have said that. I have had this disease since I was nine and am 65 now. I went on disability at 21 and worked some, but never full time. Went to college as well and got degrees in sociology and psychology. Got married at 28 and my RA continued to get worse so I quit working. Finally went to a new rheumatologist (a woman my age) in that same practice and she got my RA under control. I have been on many drugs for RA including hydroxychloroquine, but had to stop it because it caused eye problems. I won’t say I feel great all the time, but I get along okay. I have had it pretty much my whole life and you learn to deal with it and never say why me.

[d_r]

6. I saw on TV

some indigenous folks legally harvested a bowhead whale for food, and it had a piece of iron stuck in it. Turns out it was a harpoon head that was over 100 years old.

[underpants]

7. Damn.

That’s really interesting

[d_r]

8. I googled some stories about it

to make sure I wasn't making it up=
https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&client=ubuntu&q=bowhead+whale+old+harpoon

[underpants]

9. I trusted you

I was also marking it so I could look it up later.

Thanks.

[d_r]

10. I just wasn't sure *I* did :)

[underpants]

11. 😁

[mitch96]

12. "size is the key to longevity, " if that's the case I'm good till about 90...😁...nt

[TomSlick]

13. The downside of evolution.

[broiles]

14. Why then do small dogs tend to live longer than large ones?

[jfz9580m]

15. Interesting studies.nt

[marie999]

19. I believe that people who get the best medical care have a better chance of living longer.

I am proof of that. My maternal grandmother, my mother, and my sister all died before they turned 60 all from colon cancer. I am a 78-year-old female. Because I have VA healthcare and they have me get a colonoscopy and endoscopy every 3 years and I always have polyps. This is why we need universal healthcare.

[Uncle Joe]

21. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Zorro.

[milestogo]

23. But small dog breeds tend to live much longer than large breeds.

[Ron Obvious]

24. So if you don't look your age, does that mean you'll live longer too?

Asking for a friend.