A new study of the aging brain has identified a single protein that can cause cognitive decline and suggests the damage could be reversible.
Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco studied activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
They found that older mice had significantly higher levels of a protein known as FTL1, compared to younger mice.
To test its impact, scientists increased FTL1 levels in young mice. Their brains began to show signs of aging, with neurons losing their ability to form complex networks and communicate effectively.
When researchers reduced the protein in older mice, the results were striking: compounds improved and memory performance increased.
According to the study, the treated mice scored “significantly better” on memory tests.
“It’s really a reversal of constraints,” said Saul Villeda, senior author of the study.
“It is much more than just delaying or preventing symptoms.”
The study also found that FTL1 disrupts energy production in brain cells, causing the connections between neurons to weaken over time.
“We see more and more opportunities to alleviate the worst effects of old age,” Villeda said, adding, “It is a hopeful time to work on the biology of aging.”
