Aging hurts a part of the brain called the hippocampus. This area helps us learn and remember things.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco found a protein that may be why the hippocampus gets weaker with age.
FTL1: A Key Player in Brain Aging
They studied mice of different ages and measured many genes and proteins. Only one protein, named FTL1, changed a lot between young and old mice.
Old mice had more FTL1. They also had fewer connections between brain cells and did worse on memory tests.
What Happens When FTL1 Increases?
When scientists added extra FTL1 to young mice, their brains started to act like those of older mice. The mice behaved like they had memory problems.
In lab dishes, nerve cells that made a lot of FTL1 grew simple, short branches instead of the normal, complex network.
Can Lowering FTL1 Help?
When the team lowered FTL1 in old mice, the mice improved. Their brain cells formed more connections and they performed better on memory tasks.
One study in *Nature Aging* said the effect is more than just delaying symptoms—it actually restores function.
Energy Use Links to New Treatments
FTL1 also slows down how brain cells use energy. In older mice, high FTL1 levels reduced cellular metabolism in the hippocampus.
Giving the cells a medicine that boosts metabolism stopped the damage caused by too much FTL1.
Hope for Future Therapies
Scientists think drugs that block FTL1 could become new treatments for age‑related memory loss.
"We are seeing more chances to lessen the worst effects of old age," said lead researcher Dr. Villeda.