A groundbreaking new study is raising the possibility that humans harbor genetic “superpowers” linked to hibernation, offering hope for advancing treatments against obesity, diabetes, and neurological damage. Researchers believe that genes regulating hibernation—long thought unique to animals like bears and ground squirrels—are present and functional in the human genome, potentially unlocking revolutionary tools for medicine and health maintenance (livescience.com).
This revelation stems from a pair of studies published in the prestigious journal Science, where geneticists at the University of Utah showed that genes regulating core features of hibernation exist in both hibernating mammals and people. If harnessed, this dormant genetic code could help control metabolism, defend the brain against damage, and spark new advances in treating metabolic disorders. For Thai readers, this research signals potential new strategies in national health campaigns battling non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes and obesity, two of Thailand’s most urgent public health issues.
Hibernation has fascinated biologists for generations. Animals such as ground squirrels can slow their metabolism, maintain low body temperatures, and even resist nerve damage caused by sudden changes in blood flow—a peril doctors confront in human stroke patients. “Hibernation offers a whole bunch of different biometrically important superpowers,” explained the study’s senior author, a human genetics professor at the University of Utah. Examples include reversible insulin resistance, allowing animals to bulk up quickly and then safely shed that resistance during dormancy. If scientists can mimic this process in humans, it may transform treatment for chronic conditions such as diabetes, where the body’s struggle to use insulin can lead to severe complications and is a growing problem in Thailand (source; WHO Thailand).
Researchers identified a “hub” of genetic controls—known as conserved noncoding cis elements (CREs)—located near a gene cluster called the FTO locus, long recognized for its role in body mass and metabolism. Using gene-editing technology (CRISPR), the scientists knocked out these CREs in mice, which although they do not hibernate, enter a related state called torpor following fasting. The deletion of specific CREs dramatically altered the mice’s metabolic rate, weight gain, body temperature recovery after torpor, and, intriguingly, their foraging behavior. The FTO locus is well known in both human and mouse studies as a key driver of obesity and energy regulation, but this is the first direct evidence implicating ancient hibernation genes in these processes.
One deleted gene switch, called E1, led to increased weight gain on a high-fat diet among female mice, echoing obesity trends. By contrast, knocking out another element changed how both male and female mice searched for hidden food, suggesting that foraging and energy storage behaviors may also have roots in ancient hibernation genetics. These multifaceted effects support the idea that the same underlying genetic machinery, when activated or suppressed in specific patterns, could yield dramatically different physiological outcomes across species.
The implications for human health are profound. A specialist in hibernation biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks described the findings as “highly promising,” particularly because humans possess these same CREs and FTO genetic regions. This opens new lines of inquiry for dealing with obesity, which affects an estimated one-third of Thai adults (Thai Health Promotion Foundation). Moreover, many Thais already experience shifting metabolic states due to changes in diet, urbanization, and sleep patterns—factors that could be intertwined with these ancient genes. The tantalizing possibility is that, in future, precision drugs might “tweak” this hibernation machinery, allowing doctors to simulate some of hibernation’s potent benefits without putting patients into metabolic sleep.
Yet, experts caution that humans are not about to curl up and hibernate through a Bangkok summer. A functional genomics professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, not involved in the study, explained that humans do not enter torpor or hibernation naturally, highlighting crucial differences between species. While the studied genes are conserved across mammals, their expression is governed by complex, still-poorly-understood triggers—timing, duration, and hormonal cues. In contrast to mice, whose torpor is induced by fasting, wild hibernators rely on intricate seasonal and circadian signals.
Another researcher emphasized that while these CREs are foundational elements of a metabolic “toolkit” responsive to stress and energy needs, they are not a simple “master switch” flipping hibernation on or off. Instead, hibernation (and potentially metabolic resilience in humans) appears to be orchestrated by a symphony of genetic and environmental cues. The researchers plan to further dissect these relationships by investigating the effects of deleting multiple CREs in combination, which may eventually inform the development of targeted therapies.
For Thailand, where the dual burdens of rapid urbanization and shifting diets have resulted in a spike in so-called “lifestyle diseases,” the promise of harnessing genetic tools to mimic hibernation’s metabolic resets is particularly appealing. Policymakers and healthcare providers are constantly searching for innovative ways to blunt the impact of diabetes, obesity, and associated stroke risk, all of which come at high cost in terms of national health budgets and quality of life (Ministry of Public Health; Bangkok Post), as well as traditional family structures often strained by chronic illness. Integrating cutting-edge genomic research into Thailand’s universal healthcare coverage could potentially revolutionize prevention and treatment strategies.
Thai cultural context further illustrates how the idea of “hibernation superpowers” resonates with local beliefs around balance, rest, and renewal. The annual Songkran festival, for example, is not only a time for celebration but for families to take stock of health and well-being—a concept subtly mirrored in how animals use hibernation to recuperate and emerge stronger. Furthermore, the Buddhist emphasis on mindful living and the avoidance of excess may dovetail with scientific efforts to “reset” metabolism and energy use.
Looking ahead, experts envision a future where medications or health interventions could temporarily activate hibernation-like genetic programming, shielding the brain from ischemic injury during stroke, curbing runaway appetite and weight gain, or protecting organs during medical emergencies such as cardiac arrest. “Down the line, it could be possible to tweak the activity of humans’ ‘hibernation hub genes’ with drugs,” the Utah genetics researcher speculated, suggesting that some of hibernation’s neuroprotective and metabolic effects could one day be accessed “without patients having to actually hibernate.” While human testing and regulatory hurdles remain, the speed of genetic research suggests practical applications within a generation.
Still, open questions abound. Why did some genetic deletions affect only female mice? What are the broader behavioral effects of unlocking these genetic switches? And, perhaps most importantly for Thai society, how can such findings be ethically and equitably translated into healthcare for all, not just the privileged or urban elite?
For ordinary Thais, the most immediate lesson is the centrality of diet, exercise, and sleep in keeping these ancient genetic toolkits functioning correctly while researchers explore the details. Personal choices—like adhering to a balanced Thai diet, practicing moderation in high-calorie foods, and maintaining adequate rest—remain the proven “hacks” for healthy metabolism. However, as science unlocks new genetic pathways, there is hope for future innovations to help society’s most vulnerable, including those at risk for stroke, diabetes, or obesity-related complications.
The full picture of how hibernation genes shape human health will require much more study, but this research represents an exciting leap forward. For now, Thais are encouraged to follow health developments closely, maintain regular doctor visits (especially for conditions like diabetes and hypertension), and support public health policies that foster wellness and prevention. The minimalist elegance of hibernation, encoded deep in human DNA, may yet become a cornerstone of 21st-century medicine.
Sources used: