Aging of Oligodendrocyte Cells May Trigger Dementia and MS
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute have discovered that aging oligodendrocyte cells producing excessive myelin could be a trigger for cognitive losses such as dementia and MS.
A new study conducted by the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute has revealed that myelin-producing oligodendrocyte cells in the brain can lead to cognitive losses such as dementia and Multiple Sclerosis as they age.
Oligodendrocyte Cells and New Findings
Published in the journal Nature Medicine, the study found that oligodendrocyte cells, which provide nerve transmission and produce the protective myelin sheath, suffer from dysfunction. It was proven that this condition directly triggers forgetfulness and cognitive decline by damaging nerve fibers.
Lothian Birth Cohort Data
The research team examined data from the Lothian Birth Cohort, which tracked the cognitive processes of participants born in 1936 from childhood to old age. Memory, processing speed, and spatial ability tests, as well as post-mortem brain tissues of hundreds of individuals aged between 70 and 82, were analyzed.
Unhealthy Myelin Accumulation
Tissue analyses revealed that in the brains of individuals with the fastest cognitive decline, large nerve fibers decreased and an excessive, unhealthy myelin layer accumulated around the remaining fibers.
Decrease in NRF2 Protein Levels
It was determined that in the oligodendrocyte cells of individuals with severe cognitive decline, the level of the NRF2 protein, which protects the cell from damage and regulates hundreds of genes, dropped significantly.
Mouse Experiments and Future Treatments
In laboratory experiments conducted on mice, when the NRF2 protein was suppressed, oligodendrocytes were observed to produce uncontrolled myelin. Experts emphasize that existing drugs targeting the NRF2 pathway could be adapted to halt dementia and cognitive decline.