The Search for the Fountain of Youth

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Aging is the leading risk factor associated with diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and frailty. In the U.S. it is estimated that more than 60% of people over the age of 65 suffer from hypertension, roughly 40% are obese, 21% are in fair or poor health, and 7% need personal daily care. The shifting demographics in the U.S. towards an aging population is predicted to increase medical, economic and social burdens on society due to their increased care needs. Research in geriatric sciences has therefore recently shifted its focus from centering on human longevity to improving human health span and quality of life. The common marmoset, a small nonhuman primate, offers a number of advantages for aging and healthspan research. They have a fast maturation and short life span compared with more commonly used larger nonhuman primate models. Marmosets can be rapidly bred, and they can be maintained in a barrier environment. The development of the model over the last decade has resulted in functional phenotyping relevant to aging, such as metabolic health, homeostatic functioning, immune health, mobility, and cognition. These characterizations now all us to evaluate potential interventions that may modulate the aging process. The hope is that these investigations may reveal the fountain of youth that explorers and scientists have been searching for.

Dr. Corinna Ross earned her degrees in biological sciences from Cornell University (BS 1997), the University of Nebraska Omaha (MA 1999) and the University of Nebraska Lincoln (PhD 2005). After completing her PhD, she became a postdoctoral Biology of Aging fellow at UT Health San Antonio. She is currently the Associate Director for Research at the Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute. Her research focuses on marmosets, and has covered translational modeling topics such as developmental programming, reproductive physiology and the development of obesity. Her research is currently focused on exploring interventions that may protect health while aging.