Scientists reveal how aging weakens the brain's protective barrier
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered that aging weakens the blood-brain barrier by increasing the activity of internal cell transport systems. This process, which occurs before structural damage to cell seals, is linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters
Understanding the biological mechanisms of brain aging is critical for developing future treatments for dementia and cognitive impairment.
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As people age, many experience memory decline and slower cognitive processing, along with a higher risk of cerebrovascular disease and cognitive impairment. One important question in aging research is how changes in the brain's blood vessels contribute to cognitive decline.
Scientists from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have identified a mechanism by which aging weakens the blood-brain barrier, the brain's protective interface with the bloodstream.
The study was published in Neuron under the title "TGF-β1-induced endothelial transcytosis drives blood-brain barrier leakage during aging."
The study shows how aging disrupts transport in brain blood vessel cells, leading to blood-brain barrier leakage. /SIAT
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