Age Related Memory Loss Reversed in Mice

Scientists at Cambridge and Leeds have successfully reversed age-related memory loss in mice and say their discovery could lead to the development of genetic and drug treatments to prevent memory loss in people as they age.

The team have already identified a potential drug, licensed for human use, that can be taken by mouth and inhibits the formation of PNNs. When this compound is given to mice and rats it can restore memory in ageing and also improves recovery in spinal cord injury. The researchers are investigating whether it might help alleviate memory loss in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.

The approach taken by Professor Fawcett’s team – using viral vectors to deliver the treatment – is increasingly being used to treat human neurological conditions. A second team at the Centre recently published research showing their use for repairing damage caused by glaucoma and dementia.

The team show that changes in the extracellular matrix of the brain – ‘scaffolding’ around nerve cells – lead to loss of memory with ageing, but that it is possible to reverse these using genetic treatments.

Recent evidence has emerged of the role of perineuronal nets (PNNs) in neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to learn and adapt – and to make memories. PNNs are cartilage-like structures that mostly surround inhibitory neurons in the brain. Their main function is to control the level of plasticity in the brain. They appear at around five years old in humans, and turn off the period of enhanced plasticity during which the connections in the brain are optimised. Then, plasticity is partially turned off, making the brain more efficient but less plastic.

PNNs contain compounds known as chondroitin sulphates. Some of these, such as chondroitin 4-sulphate, inhibit the action of the networks, inhibiting neuroplasticity; others, such as chondroitin 6-sulphate, promote neuroplasticity. As we age, the balance of these compounds changes, and as levels of chondroitin 6-sulphate decrease, so our ability to learn and form new memories changes, leading to age-related memory decline.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge and University of Leeds investigated whether manipulating the chondroitin sulphate composition of the PNNs might restore neuroplasticity and alleviate age-related memory deficits.

To do this, the team looked at 20-month old mice – considered very old – and using a suite of tests showed that the mice exhibited deficits in their memory compared to six-month old mice.

For example, one test involved seeing whether mice recognised an object. The mouse was placed at the start of a Y-shaped maze and left to explore two identical objects at the end of the two arms. After a short while, the mouse was once again placed in the maze, but this time one arm contained a new object, while the other contained a copy of the repeated object. The researchers measured the amount of time the mouse spent exploring each object to see whether it had remembered the object from the previous task. The older mice were much less likely to remember the object.

The team treated the ageing mice using a ‘viral vector’, a virus capable of reconstituting the amount of 6-sulphate chondroitin sulphates to the PNNs and found that this completely restored memory in the older mice, to a level similar to that seen in the younger mice.

Dr Jessica Kwok from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds said: “We saw remarkable results when we treated the ageing mice with this treatment. The memory and ability to learn were restored to levels they would not have seen since they were much younger.”

To explore the role of chondroitin 6-sulphate in memory loss, the researchers bred mice that had been genetically-manipulated such that they were only able to produce low levels of the compound to mimic the changes of ageing. Even at 11 weeks, these mice showed signs of premature memory loss. However, increasing levels of chondroitin 6-sulphate using the viral vector restored their memory and plasticity to levels similar to healthy mice.

Molecular Psychiatry – Chondroitin 6-sulphate is required for neuroplasticity and memory in aging

Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan-containing structures on the neuronal surface that have been implicated in the control of neuroplasticity and memory. Age-related reduction of chondroitin 6-sulphates (C6S) leads to PNNs becoming more inhibitory. Here, we investigated whether manipulation of the chondroitin sulphate (CS) composition of the PNNs could restore neuroplasticity and alleviate memory deficits in aged mice. We first confirmed that aged mice (20-months) showed memory and plasticity deficits. They were able to retain or regain their cognitive ability when CSs were digested or PNNs were attenuated. We then explored the role of C6S in memory and neuroplasticity. Transgenic deletion of chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase (chst3) led to a reduction of permissive C6S, simulating aged brains. These animals showed very early memory loss at 11 weeks old. Importantly, restoring C6S levels in aged animals rescued the memory deficits and restored cortical long-term potentiation, suggesting a strategy to improve age-related memory impairment.

SOURCES – University of Cambridge, Molecular Psychiatry
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com

10 thoughts on “Age Related Memory Loss Reversed in Mice”

  1. my take is that electricity's main societal intention has not really ever been 'human intervention' as much as powering stuff — pharmaceuticals always the human intervention. So, to re-visit and even pursue electricity stuff… extraordinary.
    Like, an anti-gun nut claiming that guns are bad because they kill, with a pro-gun nut responding that cars 'kill' as well. Yeah, the sophisticated onlooker says, but at least cars have a useful non-destructive purpose — all in the intent. A bit of semantics perhaps, but semantics and its mis-use is what makes the world just so dam interesting.

  2. but future therapies could be mimetic – all the effort of taking care of yourself – nutrition, exercise, avoiding daytime tv — Avoided — all put in a pill or injection or as part of a program of being encased within a glass aquarium like Michael Jackson…

  3. Isn't that like saying that drugs have a complicated and controversial history: forced medical treatment, execution, behaviour modification, stimulation …

  4. a bit frustrating when comparing these interventions to good ol' fashioned self-care and forward-looking health/ wellness strategies…

  5. Also, how does this intervation compare to simply maintaining and reinforcing mental 'exercises' and regular/ consistent intellectual behaviors (challenging fiction and non-fiction reading, games, intense social interaction)?

  6. agreed. existing conditions and lifestyle choices far outweigh genetics and late life interventions to reduce damage.

  7. haven't really established potential in light of a person's current 'conditions'.
    Is anti-ageing about living longer or overcoming the self-imposed damage of a life ill-spent, beyond simply years past.

  8. On the other hand, Alzheimer's appears to be caused by over reaction to infection of the brain. Treating humans might improve their memory only to reclaim those gains with Alzheimer's.
    If we are to move onto humans, they should start with those with less genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's. Then, only if it works, would experimentation on brains with the predisposition be worth the risk and in small numbers at first.

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