Dolphin Study: Strategies For Slowing Down Human Aging Could From Long-Term Dolphin Study.

Over 25-years, scientists took blood samples from 144 dolphins to home in on markers that are relevant to human health. The study revealed 4 key biomarkers in the blood that help measure the rate of ageing. Their findings support that key, non-environmental divers of ageing can be identified, and targeted to slow ageing.

The first is haemoglobin an iron-containing protein that transports oxygen in red blood cells, which decreases with age. Next is lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that are part of the immune system, which also decreases with age. Third, platelets which are cell fragments involved in blood clotting.

And finally, alkaline phosphatase an enzyme used to detect liver and bone disease. With these indices, they were able to measure what a steep versus a gradual ageing process in dolphins look like. Most ageing research conducted on animals involves those with short lifespans, such as flies and mice.

By studying dolphins, the team hopes to learn how animals with long lifespans similar to humans reach their old age in the first place and what can be done to leverage those mechanisms to help people and animals, live longer and healthier.

Dolphins are a useful model for studying ageing because they can be affected by ageing-related conditions such as high cholesterol, inflammation, and even Alzheimer's.