Aging has a disproportionate impact on the hippocampus, a region crucial for learning and memory. Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a protein, FTL1, as the key driver of this decline. The study, published in Nature Aging, reveals that artificially increasing FTL1 levels in young mice led to age-related cognitive impairments.
Contrary to expectations, reducing FTL1 levels in old mice restored their youth-like behavior and cognitive function. This reversal was observed in both increased connections between brain cells and improved performance on memory tests. Notably, the study also showed that treating old mouse cells with a compound stimulating metabolism prevented the negative effects of FTL1.
The discovery offers hope for developing therapies to counteract the debilitating consequences of aging. Dr. Saul Villeda, lead researcher, emphasizes that this breakthrough could lead to treatments targeting FTL1 in the brain, potentially alleviating age-related cognitive decline.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-aging-harsh-hippocampus-scientists-protein.html