Scientists and veterinarians are closely studying bears and their ability to undergo long periods of deep sleep during winter, known as hibernation. Bears, like many other hibernating animals, enter a state of deep sleep during winter, protecting themselves from various ailments that might affect them if they remain active. Researchers are now exploring the possibility of applying the lessons learned from bears’ hibernation to benefit human health.
Ole Frobert, a cardiologist at Orebro University Hospital in Sweden and Aarhus University in Denmark, is leading research on bears and their unique ability to hibernate for up to eight months without experiencing adverse health effects. While hibernation involves a drastic drop in heart rate, which could be detrimental to humans, bears emerge from this state without issues such as muscle atrophy, weakened bones, or skin problems.
Frobert, along with Manuela Thienel, a cardiologist at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, collaborated with bear researchers in Sweden. The team collected blood samples from hibernating brown bears during winter and compared them to samples taken during the summer. The research led to the identification of specific proteins, including one called HSP47, which appeared in significantly lower abundance in bear blood during winter.
HSP47, found on the surface of platelets, plays a role in blood clotting. The team discovered that bears have reduced levels of this protein during hibernation, contributing to their ability to prevent blood clots. To determine the protein’s impact on humans, the researchers studied individuals with spinal cord injuries, as they also showed a decreased risk of blood clots.
The team is now exploring the development of a new blood-thinning medicine with fewer side effects than existing drugs. The goal is to find a chemical that can mimic the reduced presence of HSP47 observed in hibernating bears and spinal cord injury patients. Developing such a drug may take five to ten years.
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