The Surprising Connection Between Migration and Aging: The Mysterious Relationship Between Movement and Aging - Insights from Flamingo Research as a "Blueprint for Living"

The research institution Tour du Valat in Camargue, France, analyzed extensive data on the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) that has been tagged and observed for over 40 years. The analysis revealed that individuals that migrate age more slowly. Resident individuals have higher survival and reproduction rates when young, but experience a rapid decline in function with age and start aging earlier (average age 20.4 years). In contrast, migratory individuals have higher mortality rates and lower reproduction in their youth, but their aging process is about 40% slower, starting at 21.9 years. This study clearly demonstrated that behavioral patterns shape the lifespan curve and reproductive aging within the same species. The research was published in PNAS and reported by Phys.org, Gizmodo, and Earth.com. On social media, there was interest in whether these findings apply to humans and the relationship with exercise and movement, as well as appreciation for the value of long-term monitoring. Researchers caution against directly applying these findings to humans but suggest that life history choices can influence the rate of aging.