Activity levels and sleep patterns in youth may be linked to lifespan. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Stanford University. This is reported by Science.
In a study, specialists continuously observed the behavior of 81 individuals of the African turquoise killifish—a popular model for studying aging. Cameras and machine learning algorithms were used to record changes throughout the fish's lifespan. It was found that behavioral differences were noticeable even at early stages. Individuals that lived longer exhibited high activity levels during wakefulness and tended to sleep more at night.
At the same time, fish with shorter lifespans showed lower activity levels and often slept during the day. These consistent traits allowed scientists to develop a so-called behavioral clock model, which helps predict lifespan based on activity and sleep patterns in youth.
Further research indicated that short-lived individuals had more pronounced liver gene activity related to protein production and cellular processes. According to scientists, such behavioral markers may help deepen the understanding of aging mechanisms and could be used in the future for the early detection of age-related changes not only in animals but also in humans.
