Washington DC, May 9 -- New research suggests that longer lifespans of mammals like cats could be linked to their bigger brains and more complex immune systems.

An international team of scientists led by the University of Bath studied evolutionary differences between mammal species and found that those with bigger brains and longer lifespans tend to invest more heavily in immune-related genes.

Their findings show how broad genomic changes, rather than individual genes, shape longevity.

The researchers looked at the maximum lifespan potential of 46 species of mammals and mapped the genes shared across these species.

The maximum lifespan potential (MLSP) is the longest ever recorded lifespan of a species, rather than the average lifespa...