Who wouldn’t want to prevent the signs of aging? It seems scientists have found a supplement that could do just that.
The study focused on the hypothalamic Menin. For reference, the hypothalamus is a part of the brain that acts as a mediator of physiological aging. It does this by increasing neuroinflammatory signaling over time. Moreover, inflammation encourages several aging-related processes, both in the brain and in the periphery.
Thus, the researchers created mice that have reduced Menin activity. So they found that a simple supplement could reduce the signs of aging in most people.
What researchers have discovered about aging
Specifically, the loss of a protein called Menin could be responsible for the aging process, and a D-serine dietary supplement could reverse this in mice.
“We speculate that the decline of Menin expression in the hypothalamus with age may be one of the determinants of aging, and Menin may be the key protein connecting the genetic, inflammatory, and metabolic factors of aging. D-serine is a promising potential therapeutic for cognitive decline,” said study author Lige Leng of Xiamen University, China.
Knocking down Menin in younger mice increased hypothalamic neuroinflammation as well as aging-related phenotypes such as reduced bone mass and skin thickness, cognitive decline and modest reduction in lifespan, the researchers say. It also appears that the loss of Menin also induced a decrease in the levels of the amino acid D-serine. A neurotransmitter, D-serine is found in soy, eggs, fish and nuts and is also available as a dietary supplement. According to the researchers, the decrease in amino acid production was due to the loss of the activity of an enzyme.
„Menin signaling in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is decreased in aged mice, which contributes to systemic aging phenotypes and cognitive deficits. Menin’s effects on aging are mediated by neuroinflammatory changes and metabolic pathway signaling accompanied by serine deficiency in the VMH, while restoration of Menin in the VMH reversed the aging-related phenotypes,” explained Leng.
