title: Aging Research Using Mouse Models.
abstract: Despite the dramatic increase in human lifespan over the past century, there remains pronounced variability in "health-span," or the period of time in which one is generally healthy and free of disease. Much of the variability in health-span and lifespan is thought to be genetic in origin. Understanding the genetic mechanisms of aging and identifying ways to boost longevity is a primary goal in aging research. Here, we describe a pipeline of phenotypic assays for assessing mouse models of aging. This pipeline includes behavior/cognition testing, body composition analysis, and tests of kidney function, hematopoiesis, and immune function, as well as physical parameters. We also describe study design methods for assessing lifespan and health-span, and other important considerations when conducting aging research in the laboratory mouse. The tools and assays provided can assist researchers with understanding the correlative relationships between age-associated phenotypes and, ultimately, the role of specific genes in the aging process.
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.|Present address: University of Rochester, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Rochester, New York.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ackert-Bicknell
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Voiding Dysfunction, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Warren G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Elissa J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chesler
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korstanje
authors.affiliation: The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine.
authors.forename: Luanne L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007756:Laboratory Animal Science / Q000379:methods*; D008136:Longevity; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012107:Research Design
keywords: age-related disease; health-spanm; lifespan; mouse; phenotyping