What new cause of premature brain aging have scientists discovered? Scientists from the United States and China have studied the effect of one of the proteins in red blood cells on premature brain aging.
Insufficient content of the protein in red blood cells, which is responsible for the release of oxygen, can lead to premature aging of the brain. This is the conclusion reached by American and Chinese scientists. They published the results of their research in the journal PLOS Biology.
Why does premature brain aging occur?
According to experts, a number of reasons can lead to premature aging of the brain. This is an unhealthy diet, bad habits, stress, metabolic syndrome, etc.
Premature brain aging can also cause ADORA2B protein deficiency, according to a new study by American and Chinese scientists. It is part of the membrane of red blood cells (red blood cells, the most abundant blood cells) and helps release oxygen from the blood.
What is known about the study?
As an experiment, the authors of the study bred mice lacking ADORA2B in their blood and compared them with rodents from the control group. By subjecting animals to conditions of oxygen starvation, scientists observed their condition. It was found that by the age of 6 months, rodents without ADORA2B had a faster cognitive decline. In particular, their memory deteriorated, hearing impairment and inflammatory reactions in the brain developed.
In young mice without this protein, which were placed in conditions of oxygen starvation, the behavioral and physiological consequences of the lack of oxygen were much more pronounced than in the control group.
Thus, the results of the study led the scientists to hypothesize that the ADORA2B protein, whose main function is to deliver oxygen, reduces brain aging.
Will the study's findings help halt premature brain aging?
Experts note that further research will be required to answer this question. They will help determine if drugs that activate ADORA2B can be used against cognitive decline and to prevent premature aging.
