2023-07-03 17:13:12
“Klotho Protein Shows Promise in Improving Memory and Mental Performance in Primates, Study Finds”
A recent study conducted on aging rhesus monkeys has found that the administration of a special protein called Klotho can improve their mental performance and memory. The results of this research not only confirm similar findings from tests conducted on mice, but they also suggest that this endogenous protein, which naturally declines with age, plays a crucial role in primate memory. These findings offer potential therapeutic approaches against mental deterioration and memory loss in humans as well.
Age-related memory decline and reduced brain plasticity are common signs of aging. While brain training, a healthy lifestyle, and an active social life can partially counteract these effects, they cannot completely prevent them. Scientists have long been searching for effective pharmacological interventions or therapies to combat these issues, but the complexity of aging processes and our thinking organ has made it challenging to identify concrete starting points.
However, recent studies have shed light on the role of a specific endogenous protein, Klotho, in brain aging and fitness. Klotho protein, which circulates in the blood as a hormone, influences insulin balance, signaling chains for growth factors, and various receptor functions. The levels of this protein are highest in newborns and children and gradually decrease throughout life. Although Klotho cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, it appears to affect the brain and mental performance.
People with elevated Klotho levels due to genetic or other factors have shown better mental performance as they age, delayed neuropathological symptoms, and a lower risk of senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Similarly, older mice given additional Klotho exhibit improved synaptic plasticity, enhanced mental performance, and increased resilience to dementia.
To determine if these effects also apply to primates, researchers investigated the impact of Klotho protein in rhesus monkeys. Rhesus monkeys are highly similar to humans genetically and demonstrate higher cognitive functions. The study involved giving 18 rhesus monkeys, with an average age equivalent to 65 human years, a single dose of ten micrograms of protein per kilogram of body weight. Memory tests were conducted before and after the treatment, and the results were compared to a control group that only received a saline solution.
The administration of Klotho protein within four hours of injection resulted in significantly better memory performance in the monkeys. This effect lasted for at least two weeks and was particularly prominent in tasks that required more cognitive effort. The researchers concluded that Klotho protein can improve mental performance in aging rhesus monkeys, and the effect appears to be long-lasting, even beyond the half-life of the protein in the blood.
Based on these findings, the researchers believe that humans could potentially benefit from treatment with Klotho protein. Restoring the normal childhood levels of this hormone in the blood holds promise for its therapeutic effectiveness in aging individuals. However, further research is needed to understand the specific mechanisms through which Klotho protein influences brain functions and to determine the optimal dosage and duration of treatment.
The study was conducted by Stacy Castner and her colleagues from Yale University, and the findings were published in the journal Nature Aging. The potential of Klotho protein as a therapy for age-related memory decline and mental deterioration in humans represents an exciting development in the field of aging research. Further investigations are required to fully understand its therapeutic potential and to bring it closer to clinical applications.
Source: Stacy Castner, et al. “Klotho protein improves mental performance in aging rhesus monkeys.” Nature Aging, doi: 10.1038/s43587-023-00441-x.
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