Possible Anti-Aging Brain Therapy Shows Promise in Mice

Possible Anti-Aging Brain Therapy Shows Promise in Mice

Klotho is a protein that is related to aging. This protein is naturally produced in human kidneys and brains. The klotho protein was first discovered in 1997 when researchers found that diminished levels of the protein resulted in animals aging faster. Physician and neuroscientist Dena Dubal of the University of California conducted a test with mice that were genetically engineered to maintain elevated klotho levels. These mice lived 30 percent longer than those mice without. Because of this, researchers believe this protein can be beneficial for anti-aging therapies for humans. Just as important, the tests conducted on the mice resulted in increased memory and learning with those mice with more of the protein.

This research prompted Dubal to wonder if klotho might slow cognitive decline as in people with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. Further tests were conducted by Dubal with human’s and mice. Results showed that subjects which carried the KL-VS gene variant klotho had higher levels of functioning on cognitive tests. After the test, they analyzed the brain of the mice and found that there was increased amount of GluN2B subunits in NMDA receptors which are critical for controlling learning and memory. This could mean that the klotho protein turns on or increases GluN2B.

Dubal’s team then experimented on mice engineered to mimic Parkinson’s disease which produce high levels of human alpha-synuclein protein. The treated mice showed increase in cognitive results but the alpha-synuclein protein levels stayed the same. This shows that klotho didn’t lower levels of that protein but it countered the effects of the disease. They also measured levels of GluN2B but astonishingly found the levels weren’t different showing that klotho didn’t increase the numbers of GluN2B but they were activating the receptor components in place. After this finding they concluded that the neurotransmitter used by NMDA receptors were the main things being affected by klotho. 

This anti-aging hormone produces these effects without entering the brain therefore it interacts with another factor that is able to get into the brain. Further testing needs to be done before trials on humans with the klotho protein because the effects of the protein may involve a lot of steps in a chain of molecular events which they do not know will result in. In conclusion, Dubal doesn’t know exactly what this discovery will lead to but it might lead to ways to combat decline in cognitive functions which can help people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s live a better life.

I thought this article was extremely interesting because it show’s that science can improve the quality of life. There are a lot of people that are dealing and living with decrease in activity of cognitive function and if there is some form of medicine that can be given to a suffering individual that would be extremely beneficial.

JB

Works Cited

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/possible-anti-aging-brain-therapy-shows-promise-in-mice/