The brain's ability to adapt in due course to repeated insults can be characterized by the longevity of the response, even after the perturbation has halted.
The winter state is characterized by great longevity and a generalist task repertoire (Winston 1987; Omholt 1988).
These are traits found in most long lived trees including these cycads, which are characterized by great longevity, overlapping generations, age structured populations and a juvenile phase of 30 to 50 years.
For example, most primates are characterized by extended longevity, slow growth, and reduced BMR, whereas most rodents, and in particular the muroid species (Eumuroida), commonly utilize opportunistic-type strategies characterized by rapid development and growth, low body mass, large litters, and short lifespan (Fig. 1B).
Chaetanthera renifolia has one of the largest capitula among high-elevation Andean species within the genus (Table 1) [35] and is also characterized by its short adult longevity, being a monocarpic triennial (Torres-Díaz, unpublished data).
The overall data indicate that longevity is characterized by a preserved bioenergetic function likely attained by a successful mitochondria remodeling that can compensate for functional defects through an increase in mass, i.e. a sort of mitochondrial "hypertrophy".
Ashkenazi Jewish individuals with exceptional longevity (centenarians), characterized by living independently at age 95 years, which was considered a reflection of good health, were recruited from the Northeastern United States for the Longevity Genes Project at Albert Einstein College of Medicine beginning in 1998, as previously described [ 15].
In summary, by selecting families characterized by having a strong history of longevity, we have identified individuals who have lower cardiovascular risk factors and higher levels of physical function.
Additionally, the future prevalence of disability is difficult to predict because it is not clear to what extent the increased longevity will be characterized by additional life years spent in good health (disability-free life expectancy) [ 4, 5].
Longevity is also characterized by decrease concentration of long chain triglycerides (TG 46:5, TG 47:5) and increase concentrations of very long TG chain with a high carbon number (TG 48 6, TG 52 2, TG 54 3).
