Our brains age just like the rest of our bodies. With time, they produce fewer new brain cells. A recent study from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has shed light on how we might slow down this decline.
As we grow older, neural stem cells (NSCs)—the cells that develop into functioning neurons—become less active. This slowdown contributes to cognitive decline. One big reason for this reduction is the wear on telomeres, the protective caps on our DNA. Each time a cell divides, these telomeres fray a bit. Over time, this wear and tear limits the cell’s ability to grow and divide, causing more cell death.
The NUS team aimed to uncover how we can rejuvenate these tired NSCs. “Impaired NSC regeneration is linked to neurological aging,” noted chemical biologist Derrick Sek Tong Ong. He explained that when NSC regeneration is insufficient, our ability to learn and remember suffers.
Through lab analysis of human NSCs and experiments with mouse models, the researchers identified a protein called DMTF1. While many know about DMTF1, its role in NSCs is new. The study found that DMTF1 is more prevalent in younger, healthier brains. Increasing DMTF1 levels encouraged NSCs to grow and divide, leading to neuron production resembling that of younger brains.
Interestingly, even as telomeres shorten and DMTF1 levels drop, boosting DMTF1 in cells didn’t seem to change telomere length. This suggests that DMTF1 has a clever way of circumventing this limitation.
DMTF1 works by activating two helper genes, Arid2 and Ss18, which trigger other genes responsible for neuron growth. This fundamental understanding might one day let us control this process, offering hope for treatments aimed at promoting neuron growth, regardless of age.
Neuroscientist Liang Yajing from NUS emphasized, “Our findings suggest DMTF1 could enhance NSC growth as we age.” While this study shows promise, it’s essential to remember that these results come from lab experiments and mice. More research is needed to confirm that we can boost neuron production safely.
Looking ahead, scientists may explore how manipulating DMTF1 could improve learning and memory in aging brains. However, caution is vital; too much cell replication could lead to issues like cancer.
This interesting pursuit adds to the growing body of research on brain aging. It aligns with other studies indicating that diet and exercise can help boost brain health.
In today’s world, an aging brain is prone to cognitive issues, diseases, and dementia. Though this research doesn’t tackle those specific problems, it lays the groundwork for understanding normal brain aging. “Understanding how NSCs regenerate is key to tackling age-related cognitive decline,” Ong concluded.
The study findings were published in Science Advances, highlighting fresh perspectives on a well-known issue. As our knowledge grows, we may find more ways to support our brains as we age.
For more details, you can check out the original research here.
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