Scientists Use Spinal Fluid , From Young Mice to Reverse , Age-Related Memory Loss.
NPR reports that a team
at Stanford University has successfully
reversed memory loss in mice.
The team found that an infusion of spinal fluid
taken from young mice was able to reverse
memory loss experienced by aging animals. .
The team found that an infusion of spinal fluid
taken from young mice was able to reverse
memory loss experienced by aging animals. .
Tony Wyss-Coray, a neuroscientist and senior author of the study, said that a growth factor found in the spinal fluid was also able to improve memory.
Tony Wyss-Coray, a neuroscientist and senior author of the study, said that a growth factor found in the spinal fluid was also able to improve memory.
When we put the factor
in the mice, they actually are
better able to perform a memory
task where they have to remember
something that happened to them
(a small electric shock), Tony Wyss-Coray, Neuroscientist and
senior author of the study, via NPR.
The findings, which were published in the journal
'Nature,' could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer's
disease and other age-related conditions. .
NPR reports that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
bathes the brain and the spinal cord. .
We were hoping that by mimicking
a young environment, that the brain
would respond to that with better function, Tony Wyss-Coray, Neuroscientist and
senior author of the study, via NPR.
Maria Lehtinen, a neuroscientist at Harvard
Medical School, has been studying the role CSF
plays in the development of mouse brains. .
We found that the CSF delivers
these important health and growth
promoting factors that can, essentially,
modulate brain growth, Maria Lehtinen, Neuroscientist
at Harvard Medical School, via NPR.
What's been lacking, so far, is the next
step of testing whether these CSF factors
can confer benefits to adult [brains], Maria Lehtinen, Neuroscientist
at Harvard Medical School, via NPR