Restoring Menin protein and D-serine reverses cognitive decline in aging mice

ScienceDaily reported that researchers discovered declining levels of a protein called Menin may act as a hidden driver of biological aging. When scientists restored Menin levels in older mice, several age-related changes were reversed within 30 days. The findings suggest that some physical and mental declines associated with growing older may originate from the loss of specific proteins in the brain. [1]

In the same study, ScienceDaily reported that supplementing the mice with D-serine, a simple amino acid, improved learning and memory performance. D-serine is a naturally occurring amino acid that acts as a co-agonist at NMDA receptors in the brain, which are critical for synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Restoring Menin levels or supplying D-serine offered a potential new approach to treating age-related cognitive decline. [1]

Research into the metabolic drivers of cellular health has previously focused on how specific amino acids interact with proteins inside the cell. As FTMQ Science reported earlier, the essential amino acid leucine protects key mitochondrial proteins from degradation, which boosts cellular energy production and muscle tissue regulation. Understanding how specific proteins and amino acids maintain cellular function remains a primary focus in biological aging research. [2][3]

The intervention in older mice demonstrated measurable improvements in cognitive function after 30 days of treatment. ScienceDaily reported that the discovery offers a novel target for addressing age-related cognitive decline, though further research is required to determine whether the mechanism applies to human brain aging. [1]