The mind plays a big part in this. The aging processand scientists believe they have identified the specific cells that control it.
In a study of mice, Allen Institute researchers identified certain cells that show “dramatic changes” with age, particularly in a specific “hotspot,” according to a press release.
The mice were chosen because their brains have “many similarities.” The human mind.
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“Our brain is made up of thousands of different types of cells, which perform different functions,” study co-author and director of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, Hongkui Zheng, told Fox News Digital. “Our study shows that different cell types are differentially susceptible to the aging process.”
The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was published in the journal Nature.
Allen Institute scientists believe they have identified specific brain cells that control aging. (iStock)
The researchers used RNA sequencing and brain mapping tools to analyze more than 1.2 million brain cells from young mice (2 months old) and older mice (18 months old).
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The researchers indicated that 18-month-old mice are roughly equivalent to a “late middle-aged human.”
The researchers grouped the cells into 847 different types and identified approx. 2500 Jains That changed with aging, according to Zeng.
The mice (not pictured) were chosen because their brains have “many similarities” to human brains, the researchers said. (iStock)
Cells that were linked to aging showed increased inflammation and a decline in “neuronal function.”
“Changes in these genes lead to impaired neural structure and function in many neuronal and glial cell types, as well as immune responses in brain immune and vascular (blood vessel) cell types,” Zeng detailed. And inflammation increases.”
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The researchers noted that the cells that experienced the greatest changes were in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain associated with food intake, energy balance and metabolism.
This suggests that this area is a “hotspot for aging,” Zeng noted, and that there may be a connection between diet, Lifestyle factorsbrain aging and the risk of age-related cognitive disorders.
“Aging is the most important risk factor for many brain diseases.”
“The results of the study reinforce the notion that maintaining a Healthy lifestyle“Promoting a healthy metabolic state, and reducing inflammation in the body and brain can slow or delay the aging process and reduce the risks of age-related brain diseases,” he said. .
The discovery could hopefully lead to new age-related treatments to improve the function of these cells and help prevent neurodegenerative diseases, according to the researchers.
Study researchers from the Allen Institute discuss the findings. (Allen Institute)
“Aging is the most important risk factor for many brain diseases,” Zeng noted.
“Our study provides a highly detailed genetic map of which brain cell types may be most affected by aging and suggests new gene and cell targets for developing new treatments for aging-related brain diseases. do.”
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The authors acknowledge that the study had some limitations.
“The main limitation of our study is that the results are correlational,” Zeng said.
One neurologist noted that inflammation plays a role in chronic age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s. (AP Photo/Evan Vokey, File)
“We still don’t know how gene expression changes in specific cell types cause brain aging. Our study lays the foundation by providing a detailed genetic map and cell targets.”
Zeng called Future studies To investigate the role of cells in aging and to determine whether reversing the changes could delay the aging process.
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Dr. Ernest Lee Murray, a Board Certified Neurologist Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, commented that the new research adds to existing evidence supporting the role of diet in human mental health.
According to Murray, who was not involved in the research, the detailed “brain road map” will be very beneficial for future research on aging and potential treatments.
Experts agree that the detailed “brain road map” discovered in the study will be very beneficial for future research on aging and potential treatments. (iStock)
It has been known for some time that inflammation plays a role in chronic age-related diseases. Like Alzheimer’sthe neurologist noted.
“More and more evidence is pointing to the fact that many chronic diseases are preventable, and it often comes down to Diet and exercise” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Dietary changes to exclude processed foods and certain habits such as intermittent fasting have been shown to reduce the cellular inflammation that contributes to many diseases.”