A new way to stop brain aging has been found 15:21

Scientists from Zhejiang Provincial College of Medicine found that strengthening the connection between neuronal activity and mitochondrial function can prevent the development of neurodegenerative diseases and protect brain health. Research results It was published In Science magazine.

As mammals age, the efficiency of mitochondrial metabolism in the brain decreases, which can lead to various neurodegenerative diseases. Known as the “batteries” of cells, mitochondria play an important role in energy metabolism and bind nutrients and oxygen to produce energy. Disruption of their functions, especially oxidative phosphorylation, contributes to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which negatively affects neural networks.

However, the mechanisms of decreased oxidative phosphorylation activity in aging neurons are not fully understood. This makes it difficult to develop effective treatments for age-related cognitive decline.

A team of researchers examined the role of mitochondrial transcription in cognitive processes in young and old mice. They discovered a new mechanism of interaction between neurons and mitochondria, which they called stimulatory-mitochondrial DNA transcription coupling (E-TCmito). It is based on stimulation of neurons and initiation of transcription of mitochondrial DNA – the process of synthesis of RNA molecules, through which gene activity occurs.

Experiments have shown that the activity of E-TCmito decreases in the aging brain, leading to cognitive impairment. By enhancing this process in older mice, scientists observed, on the contrary, an improvement in cognitive functions.

The scientists say their discoveries could help develop new approaches to developing treatments to combat age-related cognitive decline in humans.

Previously was named Social factor accelerating brain aging and dementia.