Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered a protein that may play a major role in brain ageing and memory loss.&nbsp;The research, published in ScienceDaily, focused on a protein called FTL1. In their study, scientists found that when the protein was present in excessive amounts, it damaged brain cells and led to memory problems in mice.&nbsp;When researchers removed the protein, the effects were remarkable. The brains of the mice began to function as if they were younger, with improved memory and cell activity.&nbsp;Lead researcher Professor Li Gan explained that the study offers “a promising path” to understanding age-related cognitive decline, although much more work is needed before it can be applied to humans.&nbsp;

FTL1 protein

<h2>How FTL1 Affects the Brain</h2>As the brain ages, proteins and other substances can build up in ways that disrupt normal function.&nbsp;The UCSF team discovered that FTL1 interferes with the brain’s ability to maintain healthy connections between neurons, the cells responsible for processing and storing information. This disruption can lead to memory loss and other symptoms linked to ageing and conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.&nbsp;By reducing or blocking the protein, researchers were able to reverse these effects in laboratory experiments, restoring brain activity to a more youthful state.&nbsp;<h2>For the Future</h2>While the findings are early, they raise hope for new treatments that could slow or even reverse cognitive decline in humans.&nbsp;According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 55 million people worldwide currently live with dementia. Understanding how proteins like FTL1 work could help scientists develop drugs to prevent or treat these conditions.&nbsp;Professor Gan stressed that clinical trials are still years away, but this research represents an important step in the fight against age-related brain diseases.

Researchers at UCSF have found a protein, FTL1, that may speed up brain ageing and memory loss. Blocking it in mice restored youthful brain activity. Could this lead to future dementia treatments? Know more below.

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered a protein that may play a major role in brain ageing and memory loss. The research, published in ScienceDaily, focused on a protein called FTL1. In their study, scientists found that when the protein was present in excessive amounts, it damaged brain cells and led to memory problems in mice. When researchers removed the protein, the effects were remarkable. The brains of the mice began to function as if they were younger, with improved memory and cell activity. Lead researcher Professor Li Gan explained that the study offers “a promising path” to understanding age-related cognitive decline, although much more work is needed before it can be applied to humans.

Researchers at UCSF have found a protein, FTL1, that may speed up brain ageing and memory loss. Blocking it in mice restored youthful brain activity. Could this lead to future dementia treatments? Know more below.

Scientists discover protein that may help reverse brain ageing

In new research, scientists have found a way to reverse the premature ageing of the brain accelerated by COVID-19 infection, by killing 'zombie' cells. 
 
A team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia used lab-grown mini-brains, made with the help of human stem cells, to investigate how&nbsp;variants of SARS-CoV-2 affect brain tissues. 
 
Each of the cells in the body acts as a tiny molecular factory in which essential processes needed for the survival of our bodies are carried out. Dangerous waste products are produced by these processes which build over time and damage the DNA and molecular machinery.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/is-human-brain-failing-to-process-information-on-zoom-calls-study-says-yes-655164">Is human brain failing to process information on Zoom calls? Study says 'yes'</a>

At some point, the cells shut down essentially and are no longer capable of cell division. However, these so-called senescent cells, which are also called zombie cells, start producing proteins and other molecules that can lead to inflammation. 
 
"Senescent cells are known to drive tissue inflammation and degeneration, leaving patients exposed to cognitive impairments like brain fog and memory loss," said Julio Aguado, a research fellow at the university's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and lead author of this research, in a statement. 
 
Aguado and his team in the study discovered that SARS-CoV-2 accelerates the buildup of zombie cells which leads to premature aging. 
 
"We found COVID-19 accelerates the presence of 'zombie' or senescent cells, which accumulate naturally and gradually in the brain as we get older," stated Aguado. 
 
"We used the brain organoids (aka the mini-brains) to screen a range of therapeutics, looking for any capable of removing those senescent cells," he added.

<h2>Four common drugs destroy Covid-induced zombie cells</h2>

In the study, which was published in the journal Nature Aging, it was found that four common drugs selectively destroyed Covid-induced zombie cells. These are: navitoclax, ABT-737, fisetin and a combination of dasatinib and quercetin.

Watch:&nbsp;How alcohol impacts the brain | Brain can repair damage in 7.3 months

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-alcohol-impacts-the-brain-brain-can-repair-damage-in-73-months-657196/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play, but this study marks a significant step forward in our knowledge of the intricate relationship between viral infections, ageing and neurological well-being. Long term, we can expect widespread use of these drugs to treat persistent post-acute infection syndromes caused by viral infections like COVID-19,” Aguado said. 
 
The study has also proved how synthetically grown humanlike organs can be used in a laboratory setting. 
 
"Our study beautifully demonstrates how human brain models can accelerate the preclinical screening of therapeutics, while also moving towards animal-free testing, with potentially global impacts," said Ernst Wolvetang, an organoid expert at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, in a statement. 
 
"This same method of drug screening could also help Alzheimer's research and a whole host of neurodegenerative diseases where senescence is a driver,” Wolvetang added.

(With inputs from agencies)

In new research, scientists have found a way to reverse the premature ageing of the brain accelerated by COVID-19 infection, by killing 'zombie' cells. A team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia used lab-grown mini-brains, made with the help of human stem cells, to investigate how variants of SARS-CoV-2 affect brain tissues.

In new research, scientists have found a way to reverse the premature ageing of the brain accelerated by COVID-19 infection, by killing 'zombie' cells. A team of researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia used lab-grown mini-brains, made with the help of human stem cells, to investigate how variants of SARS-CoV-2 affect brain tissues. Each of the cells in the body acts as a tiny molecular factory in which essential processes needed for the survival of our bodies are carried out. Dangerous waste products are produced by these processes which build over time and damage the DNA and molecular machinery. Also Read: Is human brain failing to process information on Zoom calls? Study says 'yes' At some point, the cells shut down essentially and are no longer capable of cell division. However, these so-called senescent cells, which are also called zombie cells, start producing proteins and other molecules that can lead to inflammation. "Senescent cells are known to drive tissue inflammation and degeneration, leaving patients exposed to cognitive impairments like brain fog and memory loss," said Julio Aguado, a research fellow at the university's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology and lead author of this research, in a statement. Aguado and his team in the study discovered that SARS-CoV-2 accelerates the buildup of zombie cells which leads to premature aging. "We found COVID-19 accelerates the presence of 'zombie' or senescent cells, which accumulate naturally and gradually in the brain as we get older," stated Aguado. "We used the brain organoids (aka the mini-brains) to screen a range of therapeutics, looking for any capable of removing those senescent cells," he added. Four common drugs destroy Covid-induced zombie cells In the study, which was published in the journal Nature Aging, it was found that four common drugs selectively destroyed Covid-induced zombie cells. These are: navitoclax, ABT-737, fisetin and a combination of dasatinib and quercetin. Watch: How alcohol impacts the brain | Brain can repair damage in 7.3 months "More research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms at play, but this study marks a significant step forward in our knowledge of the intricate relationship between viral infections, ageing and neurological well-being. Long term, we can expect widespread use of these drugs to treat persistent post-acute infection syndromes caused by viral infections like COVID-19,” Aguado said. The study has also proved how synthetically grown humanlike organs can be used in a laboratory setting. "Our study beautifully demonstrates how human brain models can accelerate the preclinical screening of therapeutics, while also moving towards animal-free testing, with potentially global impacts," said Ernst Wolvetang, an organoid expert at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, in a statement. "This same method of drug screening could also help Alzheimer's research and a whole host of neurodegenerative diseases where senescence is a driver,” Wolvetang added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists say killing 'zombie' cells can reverse brain ageing caused by Covid

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