Scientists May Have Discovered the Fountain of Youth in a Simple Amino Acid, But Which Foods Have It?
A groundbreaking new study has brought the seemingly impossible dream of reversing aging closer to reality. In a sensational discovery, scientists at Xiamen University in China have found a hypothalamic hormone that plays a critical role in aging and have demonstrated that supplementation with a simple amino acid can mitigate some age-related changes in mice.
The groundbreaking research, published in PLOS Biology, shows that the decline of a hypothalamic protein called Menin is linked to the aging process. Menin levels in the hypothalamus decline with age, leading to increased neuroinflammation and a host of aging-related phenotypes, such as reduced bone mass, thinner skin, cognitive decline, and shorter lifespans.
Led by Lige Leng, the research team at Xiamen University conducted a series of experiments using mice to test the effects of Menin loss and supplementation. They discovered that when Menin levels were restored in elderly mice, they experienced improved skin thickness, bone mass, learning, cognition, and balance. This astounding reversal of aging-related phenotypes was accompanied by an increase in the amino acid D-serine within the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory.
Remarkably, similar cognitive benefits were observed after just three weeks of dietary supplementation with D-serine, although the peripheral signs of aging were not reversed. D-serine is a naturally occurring amino acid found in soybeans, eggs, fish, and nuts.
While there is still much to learn about Menin's role in aging and the potential therapeutic applications of D-serine, Leng is hopeful about the future. "We speculate that the decline of Menin expression in the hypothalamus with age may be one of the driving factors of aging, and Menin may be the key protein connecting the genetic, inflammatory, and metabolic factors of aging. D-serine is a potentially promising therapeutic for cognitive decline," Leng said.
This miraculous breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of aging and the development of therapies to combat cognitive decline. The next steps will involve further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying Menin's role in aging and the exploration of potential treatments based on these findings.
D-serine is an amino acid that has shown potential in reversing some age-related cognitive decline in mice. While more research is needed to fully understand its impact on human aging, here are some foods containing D-serine:
Eggs
Fish
Nuts
In the study mentioned, dietary supplementation with D-serine for three weeks showed improvements in cognition in the mice. However, it's essential to note that this research is still in its early stages and has not been tested in humans. It's important not to draw definitive conclusions about the potential for D-serine supplementation to reverse aging in humans based on this information alone. Further research is needed to understand the full implications and effectiveness of D-serine supplementation for human aging.
Sources:
Leng, L., et al. (2023). Hypothalamic Menin Regulates Systemic Aging and Cognitive Decline. PLOS Biology. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2007000]
PLOS Biology. (2023). Researchers find that the loss of a hypothalamic hormone helps drive the aging process, and a supplement can help reverse it in mice. Image is in the public domain.