Brain-protective molecule may help preserve memory during aging
As humans age, both protective and harmful biological processes shape brain health. When the balance shifts in favor of harmful processes, age-related changes in the brain can accelerate, including synapse loss, disruptions in lipid metabolism and chronic inflammation.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience has identified a brain-protective molecule, Pla2g2f, that may help preserve memory during aging. Researchers from Mass General Brigham, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and the Broad Institute found that this secreted phospholipase increases in the hippocampus during aging and under conditions of brain inflammation.
By manipulating Pla2g2f levels in aging mice, the scientists discovered that boosting Pla2g2f levels protected against synapse loss, inflammation, impaired cell maturation, lipid metabolism disruptions, lipid droplet accumulation, and memory impairment. The molecule also showed promise in reducing lipid droplet and cholesterol ester accumulation in human microglia, both of which are common in Alzheimer's disease.
The findings suggest that increasing Pla2g2f levels could potentially help maintain cognitive function in older adults, offering a new avenue for research into age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's prevention.
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