Could keeping our brains sharper for longer come down to one tiny protein?
A new study, published in Nature Aging, has found a link between a protein called FTL1 and age-related memory decline. Even more promising, the research suggests some of that damage may be reversible.
The protein that may play a role in brain ageing
To understand what is happening inside the ageing brain, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, tracked changes in the hippocampus – the part of the brain that helps with learning and memory – in mice.
They found that older mice consistently had higher levels of FTL1 and their brains showed familiar signs of ageing: fewer connections between brain cells and poorer performance on memory tasks.
What happens when levels change?
To test what the protein was actually doing, the scientists adjusted the levels in the brain.
When they increased FTL1 in younger mice, their brains began to act older. The complex networks between brain cells became simpler and memory started to decline.
But when they reduced FTL1 in older mice, the opposite happened. Connections between brain cells improved and memory performance lifted. In some cases, the changes weren’t just slowed, they appeared to reverse.
“It is truly a reversal of impairments,” said Saul Villeda, PhD, the study’s senior author. “It’s much more than merely delaying or preventing symptoms.”
The study also found that FTL1 affects how brain cells use energy. Higher levels of FTL1 seemed to act like a brake, slowing down the way cells produce and use energy. Over time, this may weaken the connections between neurons, making it harder for the brain to function at its best.
Why it matters
While the findings are limited to mice, researchers say it opens the door to future therapies targeting age-related cognitive decline in humans.
It also changes how we think about brain ageing. Rather than something we can only slow, this research suggests some changes could potentially be reversed.
“We’re seeing more opportunities to alleviate the worst consequences of old age,” Villeda said. “It’s a hopeful time to be working on the biology of ageing.”
