Scientists have identified similarities between brain aging in humans and mice

Scientists from Columbia University have found that the aging processes of the brain in humans and mice are similar in many ways, which can accelerate the search for methods to combat cognitive decline. This was reported on March 23 in the journal Medical Xpress.

The study showed that the human brain is not unique in how it changes with age. Scientists have recorded similar processes in laboratory mice, which opens up opportunities for faster experiments and testing hypotheses about aging.

In the course of their work, the specialists used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to track changes in the brains of 82 mice throughout their lives — from early age to adulthood. These stages correspond to a period of approximately 18 to 70 years in humans.

As Itamar Kahn, one of the authors of the study, noted, the use of mice can significantly speed up the scientific cycle. According to him, scientists can check the influence of factors such as nutrition or the environment without having to wait decades, as is the case with humans.

The Inner Darkness: what problems prevent people from living

Why do bad thoughts destroy the psyche and set you up for failure?

The key conclusion of the work is that with age, the brain loses its functional "specialization": individual neural modules responsible for specific tasks begin to interact worse with each other. This process is associated with memory impairment and other cognitive impairments.

However, the study also revealed differences. In particular, the connections between different areas of the brain are more integrated in humans than in mice. According to Gagan Vig, this may explain both a person's higher cognitive abilities and increased vulnerability to age-related changes.

In addition, the decrease in "specialization" in humans is faster than in mice. This, scientists believe, may be the downside of the complex organization of the human brain. The researchers emphasize that the work opens up new directions for studying brain aging. In particular, animal experiments will allow for a deeper study of the influence of genetics, lifestyle, and the environment on cognitive health.

On March 16, Medical Xpress reported on the association of Alzheimer's disease with frontotemporal dementia. According to the study, in the presence of both pathologies, various neuropsychiatric symptoms are observed. It was clarified that this could help with diagnosis and treatment planning.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.