Although
of course there are a number
of caveats since mice can be cured from cancer at higher rates, they don't suffer from some
of our diseases, they are sensitive to being handled (if grabbing them can shorten their lifespan through stress, the mouse version
of standard
human medical care may do the same), so I
guess that increases in maximum lifespan are indeed the only reliable indicator that an intervention is impacting
age - related mortality.
I
guess socializing feral cats doesn't have an
age limit after all; even the simple interaction at an early
age of having a
human feeding them can leave a lasting impression, and create a lasting opening for socialization.