“Caloric Restriction Delays Disease Onset and Mortality in Rhesus Monkeys”, Ricki J. Colman, Rozalyn M. Anderson, Sterling C. Johnson, Erik K. Kastman, Kristopher J. Kosmatka, T. Mark Beasley, David B. Allison, Christina Cruzen, Heather A. Simmons, Joseph W. Kemnitz, Richard Weindruch2009 (fasting, Fermi problems; backlinks)⁠:

Caloric restriction (CR), without malnutrition, delays aging and extends lifespan in diverse species; however, its effect on resistance to illness and mortality in primates has not been clearly established.

We report findings of a 20-year longitudinal adult-onset CR study in rhesus monkeys aimed at filling this critical gap in aging research. In a population of rhesus macaques maintained at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, moderate CR lowered the incidence of aging-related deaths.

At the time point reported, 50% of control-fed animals survived as compared with 80% of the CR animals.

Furthermore, CR delayed the onset of age-associated pathologies. Specifically, CR reduced the incidence of diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and brain atrophy.

These data demonstrate that CR slows aging in a primate species.

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