Longevity & AgingIntermittent Fasting Boosts Male Mouse Lifespan by 12% in Landmark Study
A new Nature Aging study from the University of Texas tested time-restricted feeding in lean, healthy mice over their full lifespans. Restricting food access to an 8-hour nighttime window increased median lifespan in male mice by 12%, reduced frailty, and improved body composition in both sexes. Female mice saw body composition and frailty benefits but no lifespan extension. A key complication: the 8-hour window also caused voluntary caloric reduction of 9–23%, making it difficult to separate fasting timing effects from simple calorie reduction. Notably, standard blood markers including inflammatory cytokines and glucose showed minimal changes, suggesting the benefits may not work through the pathways researchers previously assumed.
