A team of researchers at the University of Pavia in Italy has discovered that mouse brain cells can outlive their bodies. "The lifespan of neurons is not limited by the maximum lifespan of the donor organism, but continues when transplanted in a longer-living host," according to the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In their study, researchers transplanted mouse neurons into rat brains and found that the cells lived as long as the rats did, doubling the length of the mouse's average life span. The findings could help scientists find treatments for degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Story | Study abstract