Scientists find a youth protein that helps aging brain cells act young again

Scientists have discovered that a protein linked to youth helps protect the brain’s immune cells from age-related decline. Restoring the protein in older mice improved the cells’ ability to clear debris and reduced signs of inflammation, raising hopes for future treatments targeting brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists find a youth protein that helps aging brain cells act young again.

Com A protein associated with youth may help aging brain cells regain some of their lost abilities. Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered that TIMP2 plays an important role in keeping the brain’s immune cells healthy, offering new clues about how the brain changes with age. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers found that removing TIMP2 caused brain immune cells, known as microglia, to develop characteristics linked to aging and neurodegenerative disease.

When the scientists restored TIMP2 in the bloodstream of older mice, these cells became better at removing cellular debris and showed fewer molecular signs of inflammation and other potentially harmful changes. The discovery suggests that proteins associated with youth may help preserve the brain’s natural defenses as it ages. It also identifies TIMP2 as a potentially important factor in maintaining healthy immune activity in the brain.