The Secret to Hibernation Is Hidden in Human DNA and We Might One Day Activate It

Hibernating animals reverse aging, avoid diabetes, and preserve muscle. Could we one day do the same?

Originally published By Jenny Lehmann, at discovermagazine.com, on Aug 1, 2025


 

Hibernation might sound like an extreme way of life: Animals gain a lot of weight quickly, then drastically slow their metabolism to survive off stored energy through long, cold months.

But for all its intensity, hibernation is surprisingly healthy, so much so that researchers are now exploring whether humans carry dormant versions of the same genetic switches that allow bears, ground squirrels, and other hibernators to cycle through extreme physiological changes without damaging their health.

In two companion studies published in Science, a research team from University of Utah Health uncovered molecular pathways that could help make humans more like hibernators — at least in the ways that matter most for health and disease prevention.

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