Menin levels decline in the hypothalamus as mice age, specifically in neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Menin normally helps suppress brain inflammation, and its loss is linked to increased neuroinflammatory activity. Mice engineered to reduce Menin develop brain inflammation, thinning skin, reduced bone mass, impaired balance, memory problems, and a shorter lifespan. Restoring Menin reverses several aging-related changes. A simple amino acid supplement also improves cognitive function in the aging context. The results support the idea that the hypothalamus acts as a central regulator of aging-related processes, including metabolism, hormones, temperature, sleep, and stress responses.
"Researchers discovered that losing a brain protein called Menin may help drive aging, triggering inflammation, memory decline, and physical deterioration in mice. Credit: Shutterstock Scientists may have uncovered a hidden biological switch that helps control how quickly the body ages. Research published in PLOS Biology suggests that declining levels of a brain protein called Menin can trigger inflammation, memory decline, and other age-related changes throughout the body. In experiments with mice, restoring the protein reversed several signs of aging, while a simple amino acid supplement improved cognitive function."
"Their experiments revealed that Menin levels dropped sharply in the hypothalamus as mice grew older. The decline occurred specifically in neurons within the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a region linked to metabolism and systemic aging. Interestingly, Menin levels did not significantly decrease in nearby support cells such as astrocytes or microglia. To investigate what this loss might mean, the researchers engineered mice in which Menin activity could be selectively reduced."
"Aging may be strongly influenced by the hypothalamus, a small but powerful brain region that regulates metabolism, hormones, body temperature, sleep, and stress responses. Researchers increasingly view the hypothalamus as a central command center for aging itself."
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