Caloric Restriction Delays Disease Onset and Mortality in Rhesus Monkeys

Starved to Life?

Caloric restriction—reducing the calories ingested by around 30% of that of a normal, fit individual—leads to substantial increases in life span in experimental animals. In an extensive study of caloric restriction in primates, Colman et al. (p. 201 ) report that rhesus monkeys, which were subjected to caloric restriction as adults and followed for the last 20 years, show decreased mortality and delayed onset of age-related diseases when compared to normally fed control animals. If compliance with such a diet were not so difficult, many humans would be strongly tempted to enjoy the decreased incidence of brain degeneration, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer apparent in this population of monkeys.