Dwarf lemurs, like all lemur species, live in Madagascar and can temporarily reverse cellular aging during hibernation, according to new research from Duke University and the University of California, San Francisco.
Researchers monitored 15 dwarf lemurs during and after hibernation, examining changes in their telomeres—the protective caps of cellular DNA. One group was fed while awake and active, while the other neither ate, drank, nor moved throughout hibernation, relying on stored fat in their tails, as they do in the wild.
Factors that accelerate cellular aging include chronic stress, physical inactivity, and lack of sleep.
The study revealed that during hibernation, the lemurs’ telomeres did not shorten—in fact, they lengthened. It was as if their cells reverted to a more youthful state despite the passing months. In living organisms, cells age because telomeres shrink over time until they can no longer protect the DNA, leading to cell death.
These changes in the lemurs were temporary. Two weeks after emerging from hibernation, researchers found that their telomeres had returned to their pre-hibernation length. The mechanism behind this process remains unknown, but uncovering it could help prevent and treat human diseases related to cellular aging, such as cancer.
