From brain training applications to botox, many people will try anything to turn the clock back.
But a new study suggests that the key to slowing the aging process may lie in certain cells in our immune system called myeloid cells.
These cells play a vital role in fighting infections and cleaning up debris, but they often go into excess as we age, causing chronic inflammation.
Research indicates that stopping these cells could “demolish” the brain and delay the onset of many conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and frailty.
While the findings are in their infancy, researchers hope they could help drugmakers develop a compound that delays aging.
Research indicates that stopping myeloid cells could “discolor” the brain and delay the onset of many conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and fragility (stock image)
In the study, researchers at Stanford Medicine studied myeloid cells in older mice, as well as myeloid cells in cultures in people over the age of 65 and under 35.
Myeloid cells are found in the brain, circulatory system and peripheral tissues, where they play a key role in cleansing dead cells, providing nutrients to other cells and paying attention to the invasion of pathogens.
However, as we age, our myeloid cells begin to malfunction, causing innocent tissue damage in the process.
In the study, researchers blocked the interaction of a hormone called PGE2 and a receptor on myeloid cells in mice and human cells in culture.
Amazingly, this was enough to restore young metabolism and restore age-related mental decline in older mice.
Professor Katrin Andreasson, professor of neurology and neurological sciences and lead author of the study, explained: “If you adjust your immune system, you can discolor your brain.”
PGE2 is a hormone that belongs to a group known as prostaglandins and does many different things in the body, depending on which cells bind.
For example, when PGE2 binds to a receptor called EP2 on myeloid cells, it initiates inflammatory activity inside the cells.
Myeloid cells are found in the brain, circulatory system and peripheral tissues, where they play a key role in cleansing dead cells, supplying nutrients to other cells and paying attention to the invasion of pathogens. However, as we age, myeloid cells begin to function, causing innocent tissue damage in the process.
In the study, the researchers found that cells from older mice and older people had a much higher number of EP2 on their surface and also produced more PGE2.
Unfortunately, because the hormone binds to these receptors, it leads to an increase in inflammation, causing innocent tissue damage.
Professor Andreasson explained: “This powerful path leads to aging. And it can be cut down.
Using two compounds, the researchers blocked the ability of PGE2 to bind to EP2 and were able to reverse this inflammation, as well as age-related cognitive decline.
Older mice were even able to perform as well on recall and space navigation tests as younger mice.
Of particular interest was one of the two compounds, which proved to be effective, even if it does not enter the blood-brain barrier.
According to the team, this suggests that resetting myeloid cells outside the brain could have a huge effect on what happens inside the brain.
Unfortunately, the compounds are not approved for human use and are likely to have toxic side effects, according to the researchers.
However, the team hopes it could provide a roadmap for drug manufacturers to develop a safe compound to give to people.