“Young brain fluid” improves memory in old mice

The study suggests that the aging brain can be rejuvenated. In a study, the brain fluid of young mice improved the memory of older animals. The authors talk about “groundbreaking research” — experts are impressed.

According to the study, the cerebrospinal fluid of young mice can again improve the memory of older animals. This is reported by an international research team after numerous experiments in the journal Nature. A group led by Tony Wyss-Coray of Stanford University in California has identified some of the proteins responsible for this “rejuvenation.”

Brain fluid has the potential to help treat neurodegenerative diseases in the future, two experts write in a Nature commentary. The German experts are also impressed, even if the transfer of the results to humans is questionable.

In the study, the team injected brain fluid from ten-week-old animals directly into the brains of aged mice, about 20 months old, for a week. Three weeks later, the group tested the mice’s memory, albeit with a fairly simple test.

All animals were trained to associate sound and flashing light with electric current before treatment. Three weeks after therapy, mice treated with the cerebral fluid of young animals responded more strongly to warning sound and light than animals from the control group.