The aging brain: New research paves way for treating memory loss

This new study in Nature aimed to study whether transferring CSF, rather than plasma, from younger to older mice might affect brain aging.To start this experiment researchers had to condition the mice to remember an event so they could test this memory later. To do this, they exposed the mice to the same tone and flashing light but without the electric shocks, and many froze with fear.However, mice that received CSF from young mice froze in fear almost 40% of the time, compared to 18% of the time in mice given artificial CSF.This suggested the CSF from young mice was having a rejuvenating effect on the older brains, which improved their memory. The study showed this growth factor was necessary and sufficient to create more oligodendrocytes and to improve memory and cognition in mice.Dr. Rebecca Edelmayer, senior director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association told Medical News Today in an email that the paper was “intriguing but very preliminary.” She said: “For those of us working on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, there is much we can learn from the process of normal aging by studying the natural changes that occur in the brain over time.