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being_interesting0 t1_j4tyanf wrote

Here is a paper that suggests epigenetics plays a large role. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-54447-w

It is true that mammal size is correlated to heart rate, and both are correlated to lifespan. Most mammals get about 1 billion heart beats. Humans have managed to beat this by being more social (supporting our elders in pre-medicine societies) and then using medical technology to really overcome natural entropy.

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SethSky t1_j4v1sw4 wrote

The lifespan of a species is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors include the presence or absence of certain genes that are associated with aging and disease, while environmental factors include access to food and water, exposure to toxins and pollutants, and susceptibility to predators and disease.

Humans have a relatively long lifespan compared to many other species, including housecats, due in part to genetic factors such as the presence of telomerase, an enzyme that helps to maintain the integrity of chromosomes and therefore the longevity of cells. Additionally, humans have a relatively low rate of predation and access to medical care and other forms of protection from disease, which also contribute to our longer lifespan.

Early human life expectancy was ably about only 20 years too.

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beaker38 t1_j58gaqy wrote

Replying to Aus_scientist (#1,394,563)

The Cell paper requires a paid account or one time payment.

Here are a couple articles reporting on the paper though:

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/epigenetic-manipulations-can-accelerate-or-reverse-aging-in-mice-70888

https://hms.harvard.edu/news/loss-epigenetic-information-can-drive-aging-restoration-can-reverse

https://www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20230115/The-loss-of-epigenetic-information-accelerates-the-aging-process.aspx

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