Scientists find hidden driver of aging and a simple amino acid that fights memory loss in mice
Researchers have identified that the loss of a protein called Menin in the hypothalamus contributes to age-related decline in mice. Restoring this protein or using specific amino acid supplements showed promise in improving memory and physical health markers.
Why it matters
This discovery suggests that aging may be a modifiable biological process rather than an inevitable decline, potentially leading to new treatments for age-related cognitive and physical deterioration.
What if some of the changes we associate with aging begin with the loss of a single protein deep inside the brain? Scientists investigating that possibility found that restoring a protein called Menin in older mice improved memory, balance, bone mass, and skin thickness in just 30 days. Even more surprisingly, supplementing the animals with a naturally occurring amino acid improved their learning and memory in only three weeks.
The findings, originally published in March 2023 in PLOS Biology , came from researchers led by Lige Leng of Xiamen University in China. Their experiments identified a previously overlooked connection between inflammation, brain chemistry, and aging throughout the body. Although the results were obtained in mice, they raised an intriguing possibility: Some effects of aging may be influenced by biological processes in the brain that scientists could eventually learn to modify.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in