A new study on the aging brain has identified a protein that can drive cognitive decline and suggests the damage can be reversed.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco studied activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory.
They found that old mice had significantly higher levels of a protein called FTL1 than young mice.
To test its effect, scientists increased FTL1 levels in young mice. Their brains began to show signs of aging, with neurons losing the ability to form complex networks and communicate effectively.
When researchers reduced the protein in old mice, the results were surprising as connections improved and memory performance increased.
According to the study, the treated mice scored “significantly better” on memory tests.
“It’s actually the reverse of frailty,” said Saul Villeda, senior author of the study.
“It’s 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 are seeing more opportunities to reduce the worst consequences of aging,” Villeda said, “It is a promising time to work on the biology of aging.”
