The Great Ape Aging Project: Caring for and Learning from Apes
Publication Type: |
Book Section |
Year of Publication: |
2001 |
Authors: |
Joseph M. Erwin, Mollie Bloomsmith, Sarah T. Boysen, Daniel Perl, Adrienne Zihlman, Terry L. Maple, Patrick R. Hof |
Publication/Journal: |
The Apes: Challenges for the 21st Century |
Publisher: |
Brookfield Zoo |
Keywords: |
aging, alzheimer's, apes, elderly, nonhuman primate, primate |
Abstract:
The Great Ape Aging Project was initiated to promote improvements in the care and well-being of elderly apes and to advance fundamental knowledge regarding normal aging and age-related disorders. Increased understanding of ape biology and aging in apes can benefit individual apes, apes in general, as well as humans. The project involves behavioral, cognitive, locomotor, and health monitoring of elderly and younger apes (for comparison). Following natural death or euthanasia for humane reasons, brains and other tissues are saved for pathology assessment and detailed study. Tissue specimens are loaned from originating institutions to the independent nonprofit Foundation for Comparative and Conservation Biology (FCCB). As of May 2000, about 60 great ape brains were in the repository and studies had already generated some remarkable discoveries—including two brain cell types that are unique to humans and great apes and lost in Alzheimer’s disease victims.