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A decline in cognitive function is a normal consequence of ageing. Most of us begin to experience mild memory loss as we get older. The speed at which the brain processes information also slows down, and reasoning ability becomes impaired. For reasons that are still unclear, the rate of this decline is accelerated in some, and these people go on to develop Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia.
Imagine taking a pill that could slow down or reverse this age-related decline in cognitive function. That may one day be possible, if the results of a new study are to be believed. The new research, published in the current issue of the journal Nature, shows that the blood of young mice contains as yet unidentified proteins that can promote the generation of new brain cells in old mice.
We now know that the mammalian brain contains neural stem cells that continue to generate new cells throughout adulthood. The discovery of this process – adult neurogenesis – is perhaps the most significant finding of modern neuroscience, as it overturned the long-held view that the adult brain is incapable of regenerating itself and opened up the possibility of developing stem cell-based therapies for neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson's disease.
New brain cells are generated by the division of stem cells found in two discrete regions of the brain. One of these regions, the subventricular zone, generates cells that migrate to the olfactory bulb; the other, called the subgranular zone, produces cells that migrate into the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be critical for learning and memory formation. Newborn cells contribute to these functions, and it is likely that age-related cognitive decline is related to a reduction in the rate at which new cells are produced.
www.theguardian.com
In other words, be like a vampire, drink blood, and gain youth in your brain.
Imagine taking a pill that could slow down or reverse this age-related decline in cognitive function. That may one day be possible, if the results of a new study are to be believed. The new research, published in the current issue of the journal Nature, shows that the blood of young mice contains as yet unidentified proteins that can promote the generation of new brain cells in old mice.
We now know that the mammalian brain contains neural stem cells that continue to generate new cells throughout adulthood. The discovery of this process – adult neurogenesis – is perhaps the most significant finding of modern neuroscience, as it overturned the long-held view that the adult brain is incapable of regenerating itself and opened up the possibility of developing stem cell-based therapies for neurological conditions such as stroke and Parkinson's disease.
New brain cells are generated by the division of stem cells found in two discrete regions of the brain. One of these regions, the subventricular zone, generates cells that migrate to the olfactory bulb; the other, called the subgranular zone, produces cells that migrate into the hippocampus, a brain structure known to be critical for learning and memory formation. Newborn cells contribute to these functions, and it is likely that age-related cognitive decline is related to a reduction in the rate at which new cells are produced.
Young blood rejuvenates old brains | Mo Costandi | Neurophilosophy blog
Mo Costandi: Imagine taking a pill that could slow down or reverse the decline in cognitive function that comes with ageing. That may one day be possible, if the results of a new study are to be believed
In other words, be like a vampire, drink blood, and gain youth in your brain.
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