Despite the dramatic increase in human lifespan over the past century,
there remains pronounced variability in “health-span”, or the
period of time in which one is generally healthy and free of disease. Much of
the variability in health-span and lifespan is thought to be genetic in origin.
Understanding the genetic mechanisms of aging and identifying ways to boost
longevity is a primary goal in aging research. Here, we describe a pipeline of
phenotypic assays for assessing mouse models of aging. This pipeline includes
behavior/cognition testing, body composition analysis, and tests of kidney
function, hematopoiesis, immune function and physical parameters. We also
describe study design methods for assessing lifespan and health-span, and other
important considerations when conducting aging research in the laboratory mouse.
The tools and assays provided can assist researchers with understanding the
correlative relationships between age-associated phenotypes and, ultimately, the
role of specific genes in the aging process.