The naked mole rat: A model of successful aging (Dr. Rochelle Buffenstein — Calico Life Sciences)

Rochelle Buffenstein is one of the world’s leading authorities on the naked mole rat, a fascinating animal that has emerged as an important model for research in longevity science. Dr. Buffenstein is currently a senior principal investigator at Calico Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Alphabet, that is seeking to better understand the biology that controls aging and lifespan.  Today Dr. Buffenstein joins host Bob Hughes to explain why the naked mole rat is such a powerful model of successful aging. She talks about their resistance to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration, and what this means for improving human health. You’ll hear about the role of Nrf-2 signaling in maintaining optimal health, looking beyond common animal model systems to understand aging more deeply, and the advantages of looking at health and longevity in naked mole rats versus mice. Dr. Buffenstein also discusses the typical hallmarks of aging and inflammation as they present in the naked mole rat, their unusual reproductive activity, and what this can teach us about human fertility.  In this episode, you’ll learn why this unique and resilient creature is a “super organism” of sorts, and why Dr. Buffenstein believes they contain the blueprint for how to live long and successfully healthy lives. Episode Highlights: Introduction to naked mole rat as a powerful model of successful aging How Dr. Buffenstein came to study these animals and what is unique about their aging process Naked mole rat’s reduced susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and cancer Research on whether they are resistant to neurodegeneration Central mechanism that provides generalized protection may be at play Nrf-2 signaling pathway and its role in maintaining optimal health Thinking beyond common model systems to learn about molecular processes of aging Studying aging in a long-lived system is more pertinent to humans Advantages of looking at slow aging process in a natural context The Methuselah Mouse Prize (Mprize) is being off