How arctic ground squirrels could advance human brain health - PBS NewsHour

Kavitha George (voice-over):

Arctic ground squirrels are found all over Alaska, Siberia and parts of Canada. They hibernate because harsh winters limit their ability to find food for much of the year. But every few weeks, they slowly warm their bodies to make glucose proteins and immune cells, basically everything their bodies need to do to keep living.

So how do they do it? If researchers here can figure it out, it might help them develop drugs that can mimic hibernation in humans. Biologist Kelly Drew says hibernation might help patients with critical brain injuries, like someone who's just had a stroke. Scientists have known for decades that lowering body temperature helps to slow brain damage.

Kelly Drew, University of Alaska Fairbanks: The optimal therapy for somebody who has a brain injury is to either stop fever, or to cool the body. And the best way to do that is through the same mechanism that the ground squirrels do to turn down the thermostat.

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