Scientists Create Cellular Atlas for Maturing Minds in Mouse Model
A team of researchers at the Allen Institute has created the first detailed cellular atlas of brain aging in a mouse model, analyzing millions of individual cells and identifying key regions where age-related changes first emerge. The brain is likened to a massive city with thousands of different neighborhoods, each populated by unique types of cells performing specific jobs.
The study examined cells from young adult mice (2 months old) and aged mice (18 months old), with the researchers identifying 847 distinct types of cells and finding that certain cell populations, particularly support cells called glia, were especially sensitive to aging.
The researchers analyzed 16 different brain regions, covering about 35% of the mouse brain’s total volume, and found significant changes around the third ventricle in the hypothalamus, the brain’s master control center. They also observed increased immune activity across various cell types, particularly in microglia and border-associated macrophages.
In addition, the team discovered changes in specialized cells called tanycytes and ependymal cells that line fluid-filled chambers in the brain, particularly around the third ventricle, and found that aging affects cells that produce myelin, the crucial insulating material around nerve fibers.
The researchers identified specific groups of neurons in the hypothalamus that showed dramatic changes with age, and found that dietary factors, like intermittent fasting or calorie restriction, might influence lifespan.
The study provides a highly detailed map of which brain cells may be most affected by aging, giving scientists clear targets for future development of therapies to maintain brain health throughout life. The findings provide a crucial roadmap for understanding human brain aging and are expected to aid in the development of treatments for age-related disorders.