Researchers successfully reversed age-related memory loss in mice by infusing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from young mice about 10 weeks old into the brains of old mice. The CSF is a clear fluid that bathes the brain tissue and spinal cord of all vertebrates and contains protein growth factors necessary for brain development.
The treatment has significantly improved the memory recall of old mice in a fear-conditioning task. The team hopes their discovery could lead to the development of treatments to prevent age-related memory loss, such as dementia.
Young CSF's Potential Rejuvenating Properties
Previous studies show that CSF production decreases as a person gets older. According to MailOnline, researchers thought of infusing young CSF to the elderly for its potential rejuvenating properties that give better memory.
Study author Professor Tony Wyss-Coray at Stanford University said that brain aging underlies dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The findings of their study suggest that there is an improvement in memory in old mice infused with young CSF, which may be attributed to the growth factors that restore the function of neurons.
The team explains that the young CSF triggers the production of the myelin sheath, the fatty substance that insulates neurons in the brain. These cells are highly excitable that transmit information to the different parts of the body via electrical signals and boost learning and memory abilities.
How Does Cerebrospinal Fluid Rejuvenate Neurons for Better Memory?
In an interview with NPR, Wyss-Coray said that their team conducted an experiment led by Tal Iram to see how CSF could rejuvenate the brains of old mice. Iram collected cerebrospinal fluid from the young mice and infused it into the brains of aged mice. They were hoping to mimic the environment of the young mice's brains and see how the brain of the older mice would respond and whether they would function better.
The experiment worked and the old mice started to experience sharper memories. The team then ran an RNA sequencing to see how the CSF altered the gene expression in the memory center of the brain, an organ called the hippocampus. It is one of the few brain parts that generate new neurons.
Researchers said that the infusion of young CSF into the older mice increased the stimulation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, which give rise to oligodendrocytes that produce the myelin sheath and insulates the axons of the neuron.
MailOnline reported that the team also identified a transcription factor, called SRF, that helps turn specific genes on or off by binding to the nearest DNA. SRF mediated the effects of young CSF, and analysis shows that expression of this protein decreases in the hippocampus of older mice.
Aside from SRF, they also identified the growth factor FGF17 that induces SRF signaling and has the potential as a therapeutic target for human treatments. Scientists not part of the study were amazed by the findings and believe it has broken the ground for brain health and aging.
The study could open doors for the development of treatments for dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Any treatments for these diseases will greatly help the aging population.
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