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aging hotspot in the brain may hold the key to preventing dementia and other age-related decline
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scientists are hopeful that this will open a new window into the complex aging process and provide the information required to provide modern solutions to health issues that arise during the aging process.
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the process of aging is unavoidable for every human. that said, new technologies and information have found ways to prolong life and slow aging in the brain to reduce age-related diseases, including alzheimer’s disease and dementia. now, another new exciting find related to neuronal cells and the aging process has uncovered more data that could help improve brain health well into the golden years of life.
the research, conducted by scientists at the allen institute in seattle, washington, aimed to identify which cells in the brain undergo changes during aging and which area of the brain most predominantly experiences these changes. the goal was to further understand why and how humans age and whether there are ways to intervene beyond what is already known.
the study findings
the study, which was done on mice, led to the discovery of specific cell types that were especially sensitive to aging. it was conducted by taking two sets of mice: one set was two months old, and the other 18 months old. they mapped over 1.2 million brain cells in both groups in 16 different regions of the brain.
after examining the cells in both age groups, glial cells were found to experience the most notable effects from aging. these specific non-neuronal brain cells perform various vital functions that encourage optimal health in neuronal cells, such as supporting structure and insulation, fostering adequate neurotransmission, and providing nutritional support.
they also play essential roles in other life-sustaining functions such as metabolism, the blood-brain barrier, and cerebrospinal fluid production. the study found that, as a person ages, these glial cells go through significant gene expression changes that drive health declines during the aging process.
the effect inflammation has on neurons was also investigated, and the data showed that those in the higher age group of mice, the one that resembles the brain of a late middle-aged human, had higher levels of gene expression related to inflammation. these inflammatory-driving genes were found to be more often switched on or more active in the older age group. at the same time, the activity of genes that work to keep the structure and function of brain cells at optimal levels decreased.
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a third significant finding was the aging hotspot, an area in the brain that experienced a high level of inflammation and decreased brain cell function: the hypothalamus. this section manages internal functions in the body, including those performed by the autonomic nervous system, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. it also controls appetite, salt and water balance, hormone production and regulation, mood, memory, behaviour, sleep regulation, and sexual health.
the researchers then discovered that these gene expression changes were even more significant in a specific area of the hypothalamus known as the third ventricle. this area is responsible for energy homeostasis, metabolism, and food intake. because of its prominent role in brain changes caused by aging, it was dubbed the aging hotspot.
due to the third ventricle’s functional support of how the body utilizes energy and nutrients, the researchers now believe that lifestyle, diet, and brain aging are strongly connected to the risk of age-related brain disorders.
“our hypothesis is that those cell types are getting less efficient at integrating signals from our environment or from things that we’re consuming,” said kelly jin, ph.d., a scientist at the allen institute for brain science and lead author of the study in a press release. “and that loss of efficiency somehow contributes to what we know as aging in the rest of our body. i think that’s pretty amazing, and i think it’s remarkable that we’re able to find those very specific changes with the methods that we’re using.”
what this means for the aging population
the target outlined by this study is one that many medical professionals have known to be associated with ailing health: lifestyle and diet. the role of diet has long been seen as a precursor to good health and an effective tool to reduce the risk of other diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. now, they know that aging is another aspect of health strongly associated with what you choose to fuel yourself with because of these cell changes.
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by honing in on these brain cell changes, scientists can have a clearer picture of what needs to be done to help reduce the risk of age-related disease because when a specific target is set, it’s easier to get a bullseye.
while more research is needed on the subject, scientists are hopeful that this will open a new window into the complex aging process and provide the information required to provide modern solutions to health issues that arise during the aging process.
“this new map may fundamentally alter the way scientists think about how aging affects the brain and also provides a guide for developing new treatments for aging-related brain diseases.,” said richard j. hodes, m.d., director of nih’s national institute on aging in a press release.
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