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New therapy for brain degeneration:
Context
- A single injection of a fragment of a life-extending protein hormone could improve cognition in those with neurodegenerative illnesses, according to new research.
New findings
- The klotho protein was found to enhance cognitive and physical performance in ageing or impaired mice.
- The study was carried out by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco and published in the journal Cell Reports.
- Treatment with a klotho fragment enhances brain function across the lifespan and could represent a new therapeutic strategy to boost brain resilience,” said lead author Dena Dubal.
- Researchers said clinical studies would be deemed necessary to determine the safety and effectiveness of injecting klotho in humans.
- The body naturally produces the complex hormone that is involved in multiple cellular processes, and is linked to prolonging life in worms, mice and humans.
- In model organisms as well as in humans, klotho levels decrease with age, chronic stress, cerebral aging and neurodegenerative illnesses.
- Prior studies had found that life-long exposure to elevated levels of klotho boost mental functions, but it remained unclear whether short-term treatment using the hormone could quickly improve cognition.
