Nourishing the Mind: How Diet and Lifestyle Shape Our Risk of Aging Brain Disorders

Washington [USA], January 5 (ANI): Researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science have pinpointed the molecular alterations occurring in the brains of aging mice and identified a focal point where most of the damage is concentrated. The cells in this region are also linked to metabolism, indicating a possible relationship between diet and cerebral health.

Researchers at the Allen Institute have recognized particular cell types in the brains of mice that experience significant changes as they mature, alongside a key focal area where many such transformations take place. The findings are published in the journal Nature.

The analysis revealed that in aging brains, genes associated with inflammation showed heightened activity while those related to neuronal structure and functionality diminished.

“Our assumption is that these cell types become less effective at processing signals from both our surroundings and the substances we consume,” stated Kelly Jin, Ph.D., a researcher at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the principal author of the study.

“And this decline in efficiency somehow contributes to what we recognize as aging in the rest of our body. I find that quite extraordinary, and it’s impressive that we are able to detect those very specific changes with the techniques we’re employing.”

Through this research, scientists discovered a potential link between diet, lifestyle influences, brain aging, and alterations that may affect our vulnerability to age-associated brain disorders.

They identified a specific focal area that merges both the decline in neuronal function and the rise in inflammation within the hypothalamus. The most pronounced gene expression alterations were observed in cell types adjacent to the third ventricle of the hypothalamus, including tanycytes, ependymal cells, and neurons known for their contributions to food intake, energy regulation, metabolism, and how our bodies utilize nutrients.

To carry out the study, backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers employed state-of-the-art single-cell RNA sequencing and advanced brain-mapping technologies developed via NIH’s THE BRAIN Initiative to chart over 1.2 million brain cells from young (two months old) and old (18 months old) mice across 16 extensive brain regions.

The older mice are viewed by scientists as the equivalent of a late middle-aged human. Mouse brains exhibit numerous parallels with human brains in terms of structure, function, genes, and cell types.

Researchers believe that the findings from this study may open avenues for future treatments aimed at decelerating or managing the aging process within the brain. (ANI)

(The article has been sourced from a syndicated feed and remains unedited by the Tribune Staff.)