Scientists from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus may have discovered why memory and thinking skills get worse as we age. Their research focuses on a brain protein called CaMKII, which helps us learn and remember things.
In a new study published in the journal Science Signaling, the researchers changed this protein in the brains of mice. After the change, the mice had trouble with memory and learning—just like older animals and people often do. This shows that the protein might be a key part of how the brain ages.
The study’s co-leader, Professor Ulli Bayer, explained that as both humans and mice get older, a process called S-nitrosylation happens less often. This process changes certain proteins in the brain, including CaMKII, by adding something called nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is a natural substance in our bodies that helps with many functions, including brain activity. But as we age, our nitric oxide levels go down. When that happens, the brain doesn’t change the CaMKII protein the way it used to. This leads to problems with how brain cells talk to each other and store new memories.
The good news is that this discovery may help scientists develop medicines or other treatments that can fix this issue. By helping the brain return to its normal way of changing the CaMKII protein, it might be possible to slow down or prevent memory loss that comes with aging.
However, Professor Bayer pointed out that this approach would only help with memory loss caused by normal aging. It would not treat more serious conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, which involve different and more complex problems in the brain.
Still, he says the next step is to find ways to target this protein with medicine. If successful, it could lead to new treatments that help people stay mentally sharp as they grow older.
This research adds to what we know about brain health and aging. It shows how important brain chemicals like nitric oxide are, and how changes in just one protein can have a big impact on memory.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about low choline intake linked to higher dementia risk, and how eating nuts can affect your cognitive ability.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
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