Model identifies two patterns of aging across species
Fitted damage-production rates spanned seven orders of magnitude and best predicted lifespan differences across species.
Limit: Damage production and removal rates were inferred from survival data, not measured directly
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Researchers fitted a computational model of damage buildup and removal to survival data from Escherichia coli bacteria, yeast, nematode worms, flies, mice, dogs, cats, guinea pigs and humans. Human data came from Denmark’s 1890 and 1900 birth cohorts and Sweden’s 1910 cohort. The model assumed damage production rose with age and removal had a maximum capacity.
Within the model, damage production outpaced removal in yeast, worms, most fly strains and mice. In humans, dogs, guinea pigs, cats and one fly strain, removal roughly balanced production through most of life as damage rose slowly. The fitted damage-production rate best predicted lifespan differences across species, with lower rates in longer-lived species.
Why it matters
By comparing damage buildup across species, the framework addresses whether long life reflects slower damage production, more removal or greater tolerance of damage.
Caveats
The damage rates and aging patterns were model-based inferences from survival data. The authors said the framework awaits experimental validation.
The paper
A damage accumulation model identifies distinct aging regimes across species
Weizmann Institute of Science
Nature Aging, Jun 9, 2026, Open access
