Monkeys Live Longer on Restricted Calories

Sharply cutting calories extends life for some of humans’ closest relatives, researchers say. The finding is based on a 20-year study of 76 rhesus monkeys. Researchers divided them into two groups. One group ate the normal diet of a captive monkey. The other group ate a nutritious diet with 30% fewer calories. So far, 37% of the monkeys on the regular diet have died of age-related diseases, researchers said. This compares with just 13% of those on the lower-calorie diet. A few other monkeys died of causes not considered to be age-related. Monkeys eating fewer calories also had less than half of the cancer and heart disease of the normal-diet group. They had less brain shrinkage and muscle loss as well. The study was published in the journal Science. The Associated Press wrote about it July 10.