A recent study published in Nature Communications has made a significant breakthrough in understanding how cellular aging affects our bodies. Researchers identified a protein called F-actin, which is crucial for maintaining cell structure and function, particularly in the brain.
The discovery revealed that as we age, the accumulation of F-actin disrupts cellular waste removal processes, leading to the buildup of toxic waste in the brain. This can contribute to age-related cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s.
To combat this issue, scientists genetically modified fruit flies by tweaking their genes related to aging. The results showed that these modifications extended the healthy lifespan of the flies by up to 30 percent.
The use of fruit flies was strategic due to the ease of mapping their genome, allowing researchers to pinpoint the specific age-related genes targeted in the experiment. Notably, the gene tweaks only focused on neurons but led to significant improvements in overall health and brain function across other organs.
This breakthrough suggests that F-actin accumulation may play a key role in driving cognitive decline with aging, providing a potential target for future research aimed at understanding and addressing age-related diseases.
Source: https://bgr.com/science/scientists-can-tweak-one-gene-to-extend-lifespans-by-up-to-30/