[LINK] O/t: Scientists may have discovered mechanism behind cognitive decline in aging

[Stephen Loosley]

(Link also aides herewith:)


Scientists may have discovered mechanism behind cognitive decline in aging

Date: July 25, 2023
Source: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230725171914.htm

Summary:

Scientists have discovered what they believe to be the central mechanism 
behind cognitive decline associated with normal aging.

FULL STORY

Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have 
discovered what they believe to be the central mechanism behind 
cognitive decline associated with normal aging.

"The mechanism involves the mis-regulation of a brain protein known as 
CaMKII which is crucial for memory and learning," said the study's 
co-senior author Ulli Bayer, PhD, professor of pharmacology at the 
University of Colorado School of Medicine.

"This study directly suggests specific pharmacological treatment 
strategies."

The study was published today in the journal Science Signaling.

Researchers using mouse models found that altering the CaMKII brain 
protein caused similar cognitive effects as those that happen through 
normal aging.

Bayer said that aging in mice and humans both decrease a process known 
as S-nitrosylation, the modification of a specific brain proteins 
including CaMKII.

"The current study now shows a decrease in this modification of CaMKII 
is sufficient to cause impairments in synaptic plasticity and in memory 
that are similar in aging," Bayer said.

Normal aging reduces the amount of nitric oxide in the body. That in 
turn reduces nitrosylation which reduces memory and learning ability, 
the study said.

Bayer said the new research opens the way toward developing drugs and 
other therapeutic interventions that could normalize the nitrosylation 
of the protein. He said that holds out the possibility of treating or 
staving off normal cognitive decline for an unknown period of time.

He pointed out that this would only work in normal age-related cognitive 
decline, not the decline seen in Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

"We know this protein can be targeted," Bayer said. "And we think it 
could be done pharmacologically. That is the next logical step.



Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. 
Original written by David Kelly. Note: Content may be edited for style 
and length.

Journal Reference:

Nicole L. Rumian, Ronald K. Freund, Mark L. Dell’Acqua, Steven J. 
Coultrap, K. Ulrich Bayer. Decreased nitrosylation of CaMKII causes 
aging-associated impairments in memory and synaptic plasticity in mice. 
Science Signaling, 2023; 16 (795) DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade5892

Cite This Page:

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. "Scientists may have 
discovered mechanism behind cognitive decline in aging." ScienceDaily. 
ScienceDaily, 25 July 2023. 
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230725171914.htm>.

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