How long do mice live? - briefly
Domestic mice usually reach 1.5–2 years of age, whereas their wild counterparts often survive only 6–12 months because of predators and environmental stresses.
How long do mice live? - in detail
Mice typically reach adulthood within six to eight weeks and survive for a relatively brief period. In laboratory settings, the average lifespan ranges from one to two and a half years, depending on strain and husbandry conditions. Wild specimens live considerably shorter lives, often only six to twelve months, due to predation, disease, and environmental stresses.
Key variables influencing longevity include:
- Genetic background – Inbred strains such as C57BL/6 often live longer than hybrids or outbred stocks.
- Dietary regimen – Caloric restriction can extend life by 20‑30 %, while high‑fat or nutrient‑deficient diets shorten it.
- Housing environment – Temperature stability (20‑24 °C), low humidity, and enrichment lower stress‑related mortality.
- Health monitoring – Regular screening for pathogens and tumor incidence reduces premature deaths.
- Reproductive status – Breeding females experience accelerated aging compared with non‑breeders.
Physiological aging in mice mirrors many human processes: progressive loss of muscle mass, decline in immune function, and accumulation of cellular senescence markers. Researchers use these parallels to model age‑related diseases, but must account for the compressed timeline when extrapolating results to humans.
Overall, the expected duration of life for a mouse varies widely across contexts, with controlled laboratory conditions providing the longest recorded survivals, while natural habitats impose the shortest.