A recent study mapping 1.2 million brain cells has revealed that not all cell types age at the same rate. Some cells are located in a 'hotspot' and are more vulnerable to aging. This discovery opens avenues for developing new treatments for age-related brain disorders.
As individuals age, damage accumulates in cells and tissues, often causing biological age to differ from chronological age. Understanding the mechanisms of cellular aging may bring us closer to slowing or controlling the aging process.
Researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science mapped mouse brain cells using advanced RNA sequencing and brain mapping tools. The study examined approximately 1.2 million brain cells from both young and older mice, with the older mice being 18 months old, equivalent to a human age of 50 to 60 years. The research covered 16 brain regions sensitive to age-related diseases. The findings were published in the journal Nature.