A substance found in sea squirts, a marine animal eaten in parts of Asia, reversed several measurable signs of aging in older mice, according to a new study involving researchers from Stanford University, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The compound at the center of the research is called a plasmalogen, a type of fat molecule that forms part of cell membranes. Plasmalogens occur naturally throughout the human body and are especially concentrated in the brain, heart, and immune cells. Levels of these compounds decline as people age, and reduced plasmalogen levels have also been observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
According to a report by Science Daily, researchers added plasmalogen supplements to the diets of aged mice and then examined changes in both behavior and physical appearance. The results were described as striking. Treated mice showed improvements in learning and memory. They also showed stronger connections between brain cells and lower levels of inflammation.
Perhaps the most visible change involved hair. Aged mice given the supplement grew new hair that was thicker and darker than that of untreated mice of the same age.
Professor Lei Fu, the corresponding author of the study, described what the team observed: "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."
Sea squirts, known scientifically as Ascidiacea, are eaten in Korea, where they are called meongge, and in Japan, where they are called hoya. They contain high concentrations of plasmalogens and can be consumed raw. The researchers identified the compound in these animals as a potential dietary source for restoring plasmalogen levels.
The research team described the work as the first detailed examination of how plasmalogens may influence the aging brain at a mechanistic level. Earlier studies had noted the connection between declining plasmalogen levels and neurodegenerative disease, but the pathways involved had not been closely mapped.
The study does not establish that the same effects would occur in humans. Mice and people age differently, and compounds that produce results in animal models do not always translate to clinical treatments. Still, the findings add to a growing body of research exploring whether plasmalogen levels could serve as a target for future therapies aimed at age-related cognitive decline.
