Main roads
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The researchers, who followed every moment of the life of 81 dead African fish, gathered information about human aging.
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In middle age, those who lived longer had different sleep and activity habits
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Conclusion: Age-related changes occur in waves, not gradually
SUNDAY, April 5, 2026 (NewsDay News) – This is no ordinary fish story.
Researchers who filmed every moment of the lives of 81 African killer whales have gained interesting insights into the aging process that may also apply to humans.
Although cuttlefish live only four to eight months, they share important biological characteristics with humans, including a complex brain. According to one geneticist, this makes them a valuable model for studying aging Anne BrunetStanford University’s lab collaborated in the research.
By monitoring dead fish 24/7, researchers found that simple habits in middle age, such as being active and sleeping, can predict longevity.
The study found that fish that stayed active and slept mostly at night lived longer, while those that became inactive lived shorter lives.
“Behavior is a fascinating read that reflects what’s going on in the brain and body,” Brunet said in a news release. “Molecular markers are important, but they only record parts of biology. With behavior, you see the whole organism continuously and non-invasively.”
The study was recently published in the journal Science – determined that aging does not happen neatly. Instead, the researchers found that there was a sudden jump between stages.
They said the findings suggest that using wearables to track everyday behaviors such as movement and sleep could provide valuable insights into the human aging process.
Usually, aging studies compare young animals with old ones. Although useful, this could obscure how people age over time and how differences develop between them, the researchers noted.
Leading authors Claire Bedbrook and Ravi Nat wanted to pursue a lifetime of aging.
The reason: Even when they are raised in nearly identical conditions, animals age differently and have very different lifespans. The researchers wondered whether natural behavior could be detected when differences occur.
For research, they built an automated system where each fish in its tank was under constant video surveillance. The researchers were able to analyze the condition of the animals, their speed, rest and movement.
In total, the main elements of their movement and rest are divided into 100 short and repetitive actions.
The videos showed that at the age of 70 to 100 days – fish with shorter or longer lifespans – were already behaving differently.
Those with shorter lifespans slept more during the day. Those who lived longer slept mostly at night.
Those destined to live longer also swam faster and more vigorously and were more active during the day. The researchers noted that this type of spontaneous movement has been linked to longevity in other species as well.
And, the study found that only a few days of data on the average fish’s behavior were needed to estimate lifespan.
“Behavioral changes very early in life tell us about future health and longevity,” Bedbrook said in a news release.
Research has also shown that aging does not occur in a stable manner.
Most fish had between two and six rapid behavioral changes, each lasting several days, followed by longer periods of stability.
“We expected aging to be a slow, gradual process,” Bedbrook said. “Instead, animals remain stable for long periods of time and then move on to a new stage very quickly.”
This is consistent with studies in humans that show that molecular changes in aging occur in waves. The researchers compared it to a Jenga tower, where many blocks can be removed with little effect until one critical change causes a sudden change.
“Behavior becomes an incredibly sensitive readout of aging,” Nat said. “You can look at two animals at the same chronological age and tell just from their behavior that they age very differently.”
Bedbrook and Nash plan to continue this work as they set up labs at Princeton University later this year to explore new ways to support healthier, longer lives.
Research by the Knight Initiative for Brain Sustainability between Brune’s labs and Dr. Carl Deisseroth.
More information
Details University of Florida College of Medicine five factors affect the age of people.
Source: Stanford University, release, March 26, 2026
What does this mean for you?
Researchers studying the basics of aging hope that studying fish will provide them with information that will help people.
