Humans heal three times slower than our primate cousins

Scientists have found that humans mitigate damage at a much slower rate than other primates, challenging long-standing assumptions about wound healing throughout the species.

A team of international researchers found that while baboons, chimpanzees and monkeys healed at surprisingly similar rates, humans were significantly behind – spending nearly three times the time repairing comparable damage.

“This finding suggests that slow wound healing observed in humans is not a common feature in the primate order and highlights the possibility of evolutionary adaptation in humans,” they noted in a recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Conference.

The groundbreaking study led by scientists in Japan, Kenya and France measures wound healing in a variety of species under laboratory and natural conditions. Their investigations included baboons, Sykes monkeys, naked-eyed monkeys, chimpanzees, rats, rats and humans.

Interestingly, the healing rate of non-human primates and rodents is almost the same, with an average of about 0.613 mm per day. However, humans heal at only 0.25 mm per day, regardless of age, gender or wound location, this speed remains consistent.

For Dr. Akiko Matsumoto-Oda, the lead investigator of the study, this stark difference raises fascinating evolutionary questions. The team observed that despite significant differences in appearance and size between species (from mice to large chimpanzees), their wounds closed at very similar speeds.

The researchers first confirmed that wound healing in captivity animals matched healing in the wild to address the general concern for laboratory research. They then demonstrated that non-human primates can heal at a rate comparable to rodents, suggesting that there may be a “optimal” healing rate in many mammals.

This unexpected consistency of this diverse animal makes the exception even more confusing to humans. What evolutionary forces may drive humans to develop relatively slow recovery?

The answer may lie in our unique physical adaptation. Humans have much less hair, but sweat glands are much less than our primate relatives, which can help our ancestors regulate temperatures during long hunting and gatherings in hot environments.

To compensate for reduced hair protection, human skin develops three to four times thicker than other primates. This thicker skin improves protection, but has a clear trade-off – slower healing.

Another interesting possibility involves our social development. Researchers believe that the development of social support networks and early drug knowledge may reduce the pressure to choose from rapid recovery.

Evidence from ancient human remains suggests that people with severe injuries or disabilities survived for many years, suggesting community care. Archaeological discoveries even reveal traces of antibacterial plants and painful compounds in Neanderthal tooth plaques.

“A more comprehensive understanding of the root causes of delayed healing in human wounds requires a comprehensive approach that integrates genetic, cellular, morphological, fossil human skeletons and existing non-human primate data,” the researchers concluded.

These findings open up promising avenues for medical research. By understanding how other mammals can heal effectively, scientists may develop new ways to accelerate the recovery of human wounds, especially for chronic wounds that affect millions of patients around the world.

The study included 24 surgical wounds, 17 non-human primates and 12 rodents patients. The team carefully measured the recovery distance over time using a consistent approach for all species to ensure comparable results.

For anyone who once complained about slow cutting or scratching, there is now scientific evidence-humans do indeed be very slow compared to our mammal relatives. Next time you care for an injury, consider that your chimpanzee cousin may have only one-third of the time to fully recover.