Aging often makes itself visible in familiar ways, from gray hair and wrinkles to lapses in memory. That has fueled a longstanding scientific question: Could some of those changes eventually be slowed, prevented, or even reversed? Research involving a group of scientists from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Stanford University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences points to an intriguing possibility.
In experiments with aged mice, researchers found that dietary supplements containing compounds associated with Ascidiacea, commonly known as sea squirts, reversed several signs linked to aging. An Unusual Source of Anti-Aging Compounds Sea squirts are marine animals that are eaten in parts of Asia, including Korea (where it is known as meongge, or 멍게) and Japan (hoya, or ホヤ). They can be eaten raw and contain high levels of compounds called plasmalogens.
Plasmalogens are a type of lipid, or fat molecule, that forms an important part of cell membranes. They occur naturally throughout the human body and are especially abundant in the brain, heart, and immune cells. Their levels tend to decline as people grow older.
Reduced plasmalogen levels have also been observed in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. That connection has led researchers to investigate whether restoring plasmalogens could help protect the brain from some of the changes associated with aging. To explore that possibility, the team added plasmalogens to the diets of aged mice and examined how the supplements affected both their behavior and their bodies.
The results were striking. The treated mice showed substantial improvements in learning and displayed visible physical changes as well. Professor Lei Fu, the corresponding author of the study, says: "Our research suggests that plasmalogens may not just stop cognitive decline, but may reverse cognitive impairments in the aging brain.
Additionally, aged mice fed with the plasmalogens grow new black hair that is thicker and glossier than aged mice not fed the supplement." According to the researchers, the work provides the first detailed look at how plasmalogens may influence the aging brain. To measure learning and memory, the scientists used a common laboratory experiment called the Morris water maze. In this test, mice are placed in a pool containing a hidden platform where they can rest.
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