Scientists from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a core process behind the cognitive decline typically observed in normal aging. This process involves the improper regulation of a brain protein, CaMKII, due to a reduction in its nitrosylation as individuals age. This groundbreaking discovery opens up potential routes for pharmacological interventions aimed at restoring normal levels of nitrosylation in this protein to sustain cognitive health.
The CU Anschutz team suggests that their findings could lay the groundwork for the creation of innovative drugs and therapies to combat the normal cognitive deterioration that comes with aging.
The scientists believe they’ve pinpointed the key mechanism at the heart of age-related cognitive decline.
“The mechanism is tied to the misregulation of a brain protein known as CaMKII, which is fundamental for memory and learning,” shared Ulli Bayer, Ph.D., co-senior author of the study and a professor of pharmacology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Our study directly proposes specific pharmacological treatment strategies.”
The study has been published in the journal Science Signaling.
Through the use of mouse models, the researchers found that modifying the CaMKII brain protein results in cognitive impacts akin to those experienced during normal aging.
Bayer explained that the process called S-nitrosylation, which modifies specific brain proteins like CaMKII, decreases with aging in both mice and humans.
“Our current study reveals that a reduction in this modification of CaMKII is enough to trigger impairments in synaptic plasticity and memory that are comparable to those seen in aging,” Bayer stated.
The study finds that normal aging lowers the levels of nitric oxide in the body, which subsequently reduces nitrosylation and thereby hampers memory and learning capability.
According to Bayer, the new research points to the potential development of drugs and other therapies that could restore the normal nitrosylation of the protein, potentially delaying or treating normal cognitive decline for an undetermined period.
He clarified that this approach would only be effective for normal age-related cognitive decline and not for the cognitive decline observed in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“We know this protein can be targeted,” Bayer said. “And we think it could be done pharmacologically. This is the next reasonable step.”
Reference: “Decreased nitrosylation of CaMKII causes aging-associated impairments in memory and synaptic plasticity in mice” by Nicole L. Rumian, Ronald K. Freund, Mark L. Dell’Acqua, Steven J. Coultrap and K. Ulrich Bayer, 25 July 2023, Science Signaling.
DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade5892
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Age-related Cognitive Decline
What is the central mechanism behind cognitive decline associated with normal aging?
The central mechanism behind cognitive decline associated with normal aging is the misregulation of a brain protein, CaMKII, due to a decrease in its nitrosylation.
What is the role of the CaMKII protein in cognitive decline?
The CaMKII protein is critical for memory and learning. As individuals age, the nitrosylation of this protein decreases, leading to its misregulation and resulting in cognitive decline.
How might these findings influence treatments for cognitive decline?
These findings may pave the way for the development of pharmacological treatments to maintain cognitive health by normalizing the nitrosylation of the CaMKII protein.
Can this potential treatment help with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s and dementia?
No, the potential treatment would only work for normal age-related cognitive decline. It would not be effective for cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
What was the method used by the researchers in this study?
The researchers used mouse models to demonstrate that altering the CaMKII brain protein caused similar cognitive effects to those experienced during normal aging.
More about Age-related Cognitive Decline
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
- Science Signaling Journal
- CaMKII and its role in brain function
- Nitrosylation process
5 comments
I find it encouraging that researchers are looking at normal cognitive decline and not just diseases like Alzheimer’s. We all age and anything to help maintain our mental acuity is a good thing.
ok, I’m only in my thirties but this kinda makes me worry… time is ticking and our brains are aging right along with us. but hey, maybe they’ll have a cure for aging by the time i’m old lol.
Did anyone else get a bit lost in the jargon here? nitrosylation… CaMKII… It all sounds very complex. Guess that’s why they’re the scientists and we’re not, huh?
wow, science never ceases to amaze me! Understanding the way our brain ages and ways to counteract it, it’s just mindblowing. Hope this leads to real treatments in the near future!
Hey all, I study neuroscience and this is really exciting stuff! Misregulation of proteins causing cognitive decline. Kinda scary but glad there’s hope.