THE EVOLUTION OF LONGEVITY IN PRIMATES
J. Erwin,1 J. Ely,1 K. Smith,1 D. Perl,2 and P. Hof2
1Division of Neurobiology, Behavior, and Genetics, BIOQUAL, Inc., 9600 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
2Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Despite the very close genetic relationship between humans and great apes, the maximum life span of humans (>120 years) is nearly twice that of chimpanzees (>60 years). Rhesus and other macaques seldom survive beyond 40 years of age, although some New World monkeys can also live into their 40s. The smallest of primates, the mouse lemurs, can reach their teens in the protection of captivity, even though they seldom survive half that long in the wild. This presentation will include comparisons across the primate order with regard to maximum known life span, typical longevity and life expectancy in captivity and in the wild, along with milestones such as menarche and menopause. The results will be discussed in the context of the occurrence of age-related disorders, nutritional status, and selective pressures under natural natural versus managed conditions. The authors are grateful for USPHS/NIH grant support, AG14308, and collaborating research and zoological institutions, especially to Mount Sinai School of Medicine, BIOQUAL, Inc., and the Foundation for Comparative and Conservation Biology (FCCB: www.agingapes.org).
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