In case you thought science was going to take a day off, researchers have just figured out a way of reversing brain aging – in fruit flies, but still.
They previously did something similar in lab mice, claiming to “reverse and repair” damage done by Alzheimer’s disease. The brain is a fascinating thing: it behaves weirdly after midnight, performs a magical reset while sleeping to “save memories,” and automatically corrects spelling errors even when you don’t see them yourself. Whatever next, health experts?!
Scientists find way to ‘reverse brain aging’ by preventing waste buildup
When a common type of protein builds up in the brain, it stops cells from getting rid of “unnecessary or dysfunctional components,” i.e., waste.
The buildup of waste causes the brain to work less efficiently and contributes to cognitive decline. Cognitive decline is one of the key negative processes associated with neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and, more specifically, Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists at the University of California made a few tweaks to the brains of aging fruit flies. By doing so, they prevented this protein from building up, which allowed the fruit flies’ brains to do a better job of self-cleaning and recycling.
It extended the healthy lifespan of the fruit flies by almost a third. If the lessons learned in this study could be applied to humans, the impact on longevity research could be momentous.
What makes flies good for brain research, and what this research could mean for us
Like humans, fruit flies grow forgetful as they get older, according to UCLA’s newsroom release about the study. However, fruit flies live for just two months, which makes them a “useful model” for getting to grips with the processes behind cognitive decline and aging.
“Flies get more forgetful as they age, and their ability to learn and remember declines in middle age, just like it does in people,” said David Walker, one of the study’s authors. His team’s modifications restored something called “brain autophagy” to “youthful levels” and reversed particular aspects of “brain aging.”
Autophagy is when cells break down damaged or superfluous parts of themselves to make room for activity. It literally means “eating oneself.”
“Most of us in the aging field are focused on moving beyond lifespan into what we call the healthspan,” Walker explained. “We want to help people enjoy good health and a high quality of life while extending their lifespan.
“Our study improved cognitive and gut function, activity level, and overall healthspan of fruit flies – and offers hope for what we might be able to achieve in humans.”
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