The Fewer-Friends Monkey: Like Humans, Aging Macaques More Selective of their Companions
Aging Monkeys and Humans Apparently Share One Trait as they Get Older.
Scientists have observed that older monkeys prefer the company of a few friends over a larger group, just like older adult humans.
A group of scientists studied the behavior of Barbary macaque monkeys in a social experiment. They found that the older the monkeys are, the more likely they are to prefer less company, just like adult humans. This behavior dds to the growing list of similarities between humans and monkeys.
Aging Monkeys Pickier with Company
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A study published in the journal Current Biology revealed that the older the Barbary macaque monkeys are, the more they are to prefer less company. German researchers observed the social behavior of more than 100 macaque monkeys in a park in France aged 4 to 29.
The results revealed that younger monkeys craved social interaction by grooming or playing with other monkeys. Scientists also observed that when female macaque monkeys have given birth, their interest in playing decreased.
Monkeys who were aged 20 and above preferred having limited social interaction. They tend to avoid or withdraw from others of the same age but still welcomed younger monkeys who want to interact. The research said that these older monkeys are still attuned to their social ecosystem but prefer not to take actively part in it.
Same Behavior Also Found in Humans
Lead author Alexandra Freund of the University of Zurich said that the behavior exhibited by the elder macaque monkeys is similar to senior adult humans. Freund adds that social withdrawal can be best explained by the psychological theory that older human have the need to utilize the remaining time before death. However, co-author Julia Fischer explained that there is no concrete evidence to support the theory.
Fischer notes that older macaque monkeys and human adults withdraw socially because of age, reduced stamina or the patience to deal with others who are going through the motions they already went through.
The researchers wrote on their study that the similarities between macaque monkeys and humans may be interconnected via evolution that is thousands of years apart.
