According to the latest reports, experts have discovered RNA that doesn’t age in the brain. Check out the latest reports about this below.
RNA that doesn’t age in the brain
It has been revealed that there are some RNA molecules in the nerve cells of the brain that last a lifetime without having to be renewed.
SciTechDaily notes that neuroscientists from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now demonstrated that this is the case together with researchers from Germany, Austria and the USA. RNAs are generally short-lived molecules that are constantly reconstructed to adjust to environmental conditions.
Expert results have now been published in the journal Science; the research group hopes to decipher the complex aging process of the brain and gain a better understanding of related degenerative diseases.
The majority of cells in the human body are continually regenerated, allowing them to retain their functionality. However, there are certain organs such as the heart, pancreas, and brain that are composed of cells that are not renewed throughout one’s lifespan.
Despite this, these organs must remain fully functional in order to maintain overall bodily health.
“Aging neurons are an important risk factor for neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s,” says Prof. Dr. Tomohisa Toda, Professor of Neural Epigenomics at FAU and at the Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine in Erlangen.
He continued and explained the following:
“A basic understanding of the aging process and which key components are involved in maintaining cell function is crucial for effective treatment concepts.”
According to the same online publication mentioned above, scientists identified a key component of brain aging: the researchers were able to demonstrate for the first time that certain types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) that protect genetic material exist just as long as the neurons themselves.
“This is surprising, as unlike DNA, which as a rule never changes, most RNA molecules are extremely short-lived and are constantly being exchanged,” Toda explained.
All these discoveries are a step forward towards a better understanding of the human body and its capabilities.
