When longevity becomes chemistry: Why rodent brains lack neuromelanin
Cristina Canales, Mario M. Ilarduya, Julia Chocarro, Alberto J. Rico, Goiaz Ariznabarreta, Elena Lorenzo-Ramos, Dolores Carbonell, Radim Šumbera, Jan Okrouhlík, Daniel Ruiz‐Molina, José Luis Lanciego
The paper shows that mole rats accumulate neuromelanin with age, suggesting that long-lived rodents develop this pigment, while short-lived rodents like mice and rats do not reach detectable levels due to their shorter lifespans.
bioRxiv · Oct 16, 2026 · PreprintNeuroscience