Octodon degus: a natural animal model of aging and Alzheimer’s disease
The study of aging and age-related diseases has traditionally focused on short-lived laboratory species such as mice. The common degu (Octodon degus) is a long-lived rodent species native to Chile that naturally develops neuropathology and behavioral deficits characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease together with other comorbidities associated with aging. These characteristics make the degu a useful model to gain insights into the interaction of aging and neurodegeneration.
Authors
- Xiangmin Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5828-1533)
- Todd C. Holmes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8152-8832)
- Michael J. Hurley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8022-9283)
- Patricia Cogram (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4198-0821)
- B. Maximiliano Garduño (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8828-0614)
- Robert M. J. Deacon
Institutions
- Universidad de Santiago de Chile (CL)
- University of California, Irvine (US)
- Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity (CL)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- University of Chile (CL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Lab Animal
- Published
- 2025-08-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-025-01602-8
- Primary Topic
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad
- Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
- National Institutes of Health