An old man with a white beard dressed casually sits on concrete steps beside a sandy beach area, with a stone wall and some greenery visible in the background.

Ageing

Average life expectancy has been rising for years: in industrialised countries it has doubled in the last 120 years for both men and women. The causes and consequences of this phenomenon are also a challenge for research.

Large meta-analysis finds consistent evidence across epigenetic measures worldwide 

The data of the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) are now available to researchers worldwide at the Research Data Center of the Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)

Comparative study across 117 mammals shows that blocking reproduction increases life expectancy

Study traces the evolutionary roots of the lifespan gap between women and men

Excess RNA building blocks destabilize mitochondrial DNA

Large-scale study identifies factors associated with virginity in older adults

In a rare population of tool-using chimpanzees aging can have a profound impact on their abilities—but not all chimps decline equally

Scientists mapping how nutrients and lipids shape bone marrow blood stem cells from health to aging and leukemia

Combination therapy with Rapamycin and Trametinib prolongs the life of mice

Location-specific functions and regulation of mTORC1 in cells

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Large meta-analysis finds consistent evidence across epigenetic measures worldwide 

Comparative study across 117 mammals shows that blocking reproduction increases life expectancy

Study traces the evolutionary roots of the lifespan gap between women and men

Combination therapy with Rapamycin and Trametinib prolongs the life of mice

The activity of genes changes in neurons with age

Researchers give adult zebra finches back their ability to learn new songs

Poor lighting conditions can reduce quality of life

Recent study shows evolution of kinship structures through 2100

Genetic switch rescues ageing fish from continuous fasting trap

Liver cells age differently depending on where they are in the organ

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Scientific highlights 2020

December 21, 2020

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2020 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 13 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year

Does having children make us live longer? The numbers say yes, but the reasons are not yet understood.

Scientists discover that nucleolar size correlates with health and lifespan in organisms as diverse as roundworms, flies and humans

Maintaining a normal weight, not smoking, and drinking alcohol at moderatel levels add healthy years to life

Max Planck researcher criticizes insufficient anti-smoking policies

The life expectancy of older fish is extended if their gut is colonized with the microorganisms of younger fish.

In mice, dietary restrictions can lead to changes in lipid metabolism, thus increasing the animals' lifespans

A new developed diet for fruit flies increases growth and fecundity without shortening life-span

Older people make riskier choices than younger adults—and worse decisions

Study investigates the relationship between caregiving and lifespan

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