Study Shows Chimpanzees Experience Menopause, Challenges Evolutionary Theories

Groundbreaking Study Finds Wild Chimpanzees in Uganda Experience Similar Hormonal Changes as Menopausal Humans, Discards "Grandmother Hypothesis" as Explanation.

A groundbreaking study has found that wild chimpanzees in Uganda undergo menopause, experiencing similar hormonal changes to humans. The discovery challenges existing explanations for the evolution of post-reproductive survival, particularly the 'Grandmother Hypothesis'.
Over 25 years of research into the Ngogo community of wild chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda, shows female chimps live decades beyond menopause, similar to humans, a few species of whale, and Asian elephants. But unlike humans and whales, older female chimps do not appear to play a major role in caring for their grandchildren.
Analysis of fertility rates and hormone levels in urine from dozens of the Ngogo chimpanzees confirmed the transition to a post-reproductive state, marked by significant hormonal changes similar to human menopause.
The new findings could suggest that menopause arose in the common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans, approximately seven million years ago.
Further research is required to determine if the observed post-reproductive lifespan of the Ngogo chimpanzees is unique to their specific environment, or if it could be typical for the species. The study might also shed light on why menopause evolved in some species while others continue to reproduce throughout their lifespan.