Could Colder Temperatures Increase Human Lifespans?

Hotter temperatures aren’t exactly doing us any favors healthwise. Not only is there evidence that heat is re-wiring our brains, but it’s also been shown to increase suicide rates and be dangerously lethal—leading to higher rates of heat stroke and dehydration. It’s no real surprise then that cooler temperatures are generally better for us. New research has even revealed that it could play a role in extending our lifespans.

In a paper published Monday in the journal Nature Aging, researchers at the University of Cologne in Germany found a type of protein complex that might play a large role in how cold temperatures extend the lifespan of worms. The mechanism works by reducing protein malfunctions that occur more often as the creature ages—and could lead to similar benefits in human cells too.

“Extreme low temperatures are detrimental, but a moderate decrease in body temperature can have beneficial effects for the organism,” the study’s authors wrote. They added that a decrease in body temperature has been shown to increase the lifespan of fruit flies, worms, and mice. However, the reason why this was the case has long eluded researchers.

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