Overview

• The study, published in *Scientific Reports*, identifies parallel evolutionary expansions of immune-related gene families and brain size as central to extended lifespans in mammals.
• Researchers analyzed maximum lifespan potential (MLSP) across 46 species, finding that longer-lived mammals tend to have larger immune gene families and relatively bigger brains.
• Outlier species like bats and mole rats, despite smaller brains, exhibit expanded immune gene families, suggesting immune resilience can compensate for cognitive limitations in lifespan evolution.
• The findings highlight that broad genomic adaptations, such as gene family duplications, play a more significant role in longevity than isolated genetic mutations.
• Future research will focus on cancer-related gene families to explore their role in longevity and cancer resistance among mammals.