Sure, the weather has been miserable, but on the bright side, it may prolong your life. Though it can’t replace the joy you’ll experience when summer finally kicks in, you can find some comfort in research being conducted at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute.
Researchers have known for a while that organisms live longer in colder temperatures, however, they have not known why. The assumption was that cold weather made our bodily processes occur in slow-motion, essentially stretching our life expectancy over a longer period of time. Well, scientists now know better. Turns out a cold environment triggers receptors, called TRPA1. The result is the activation of a gene, known as DAF-16/FOXO, responsible for increasing longevity. Basically, the cold weather doesn’t slow us down – it tells our body to rev-up its ability to live longer.
Though this research was conducted on roundworms, the same cellular pathway exists in humans and other mammals. So, what happens if you’re still not a fan of the cold? Well, the researchers also found that feeding wasabi to the worms helped them live longer. But before you gobble down a spoonful of this spicy condiment, keep in mind that the stress caused by a painful burning sensation might be counterproductive.
