Source The London Economic: The groundbreaking feat was achieved by destroying a protein that stiffens the organ – much like muscles and joints.
Brain ageing has been reversed for the first time, offering hope of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis, say British scientists.
The groundbreaking feat was achieved by destroying a protein that stiffens the organ – much like muscles and joints.
Just like bones it ‘creaks’ as we get older – impairing the function of stem cells that generate neurons.
Using the brains of rodents, lab tests showed they could be rejuvenated by focusing on oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs).
This is a type of stem cell needed to repair myelin – the fatty insulating material that coats nerve fibres.
In multiple sclerosis this is damaged. The loss of OPCs is also linked to dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Their function even declines with age in healthy people.
The findings published in Nature shed fresh light on the ageing process, report the Cambridge University team. Read on.