Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a protein, FTL1, that appears to play a key role in the aging of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. The study found that older mice had higher levels of FTL1 in their hippocampus compared to younger mice. This increase was associated with fewer connections between brain cells and reduced cognitive abilities.
The research team increased FTL1 levels in young mice and observed that their brains and behavior began to resemble those of older mice. In laboratory experiments, nerve cells engineered to produce more FTL1 developed simpler neurites rather than the complex branching structures seen in normal cells.
Reducing FTL1 levels in the hippocampus of old mice led to an improvement in both neural connectivity and performance on memory tests. “It is truly a reversal of impairments,” said Saul Villeda, PhD, associate director of the UCSF Bakar Aging Research Institute and senior author of the paper published in Nature Aging on August 19. “It’s much more than merely delaying or preventing symptoms.”
The study also found that FTL1 slowed down metabolism within hippocampal cells in older mice. However, when these cells were treated with a compound that stimulates metabolism, this effect was prevented. Villeda expressed optimism about future treatments: “We’re seeing more opportunities to alleviate the worst consequences of old age,” he said. “It’s a hopeful time to be working on the biology of aging.”
The research was conducted by a team including Laura Remesal, PhD; Juliana Sucharov-Costa; Karishma J.B. Pratt, PhD; Gregor Bieri, PhD; Amber Philp, PhD; Mason Phan; Turan Aghayev, MD, PhD; Charles W. White III, PhD; Elizabeth G. Wheatley, PhD; Brandon R. Desousa; Isha H. Jian; Jason C. Maynard, PhD; and Alma L. Burlingame, PhD.
Funding for this work came from several sources including the Simons Foundation, Bakar Family Foundation, National Science Foundation, Hillblom Foundation, Bakar Aging Research Institute, Marc and Lynne Benioff, and the National Institutes of Health.
