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Chimp and gorilla brains resist weight loss with age — unlike human brains

Chimp and gorilla brains resist weight loss with age — unlike human brains

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT 09 October 2026 The relatively short lifespans of non-human great apes might explain why their brain mass is maintained in later life Older apes’ brains are just as big as those of younger apes. Credit: Anup Shah/Nature Picture Library In humans, the brain tends to start losing weight at around the age of

  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

The relatively short lifespans of non-human great apes might explain why their brain mass is maintained in later life

Portrait of an eastern chimpanzee in front of a blurred green leafy background

Older apes’ brains are just as big as those of younger apes. Credit: Anup Shah/Nature Picture Library

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03158-0

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