Old rat brains rejuvenated and new neurons grown by asthma drug

[progressoid]

As we get older, most of us will experience some kind of brain degeneration. Typically, we lose the ability to make new neurons. Another problem is chronic, low-grade inflammation in the brain, which is implicated in many age-related brain disorders.

To tackle both problems in one go, Ludwig Aigner at Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg in Austria and his colleagues targeted a set of receptors in the brain that, when activated, trigger inflammation.

High numbers of these receptors are found in areas of the brain where neurons are born, suggesting they might also be involved in this process, too.

A drug called montelukast (Singulair), regularly prescribed for asthma and allergic rhinitis, blocks these receptors, so Aigner and his colleagues tried it on young and old rats. The team used oral doses equivalent to those taken by people with asthma. The older animals were 20 months old – roughly equivalent to between 65 and 75 in human years. The younger rats were 4 months old – about 17 in human years. The animals were fed the drug daily for six weeks, while another set of young and old rats were left untreated. There were 20 young and 14 old rats in total.
Escape plan

The rats took part in a range of learning and memory tests. One of these, for example, involved the rats being placed in a pool of water with a hidden escape platform. At the start of the study, untreated young rats learned to recognise landmarks and quickly find their way to the platform, while the untreated older animals struggled at the task.

By the end of their six-week drug regime, though, old animals performed as well as their younger companions. “We’ve restored learning and memory 100 per cent, to a level comparable with youth,” says Aigner. He presented his findings last week at the Society for Neuroscience meetingin Chicago.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28384-old-rat-brains-rejuvenated-and-new-neurons-grown-by-asthma-drug?utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=SOC&utm_campaign=twitter&cmpid=SOC%25257CNSNS%25257C2014-GLOBAL-twitter

[TexasProgresive]

1. I don't have asthma but allergic rhinitis is a whole nother (sniff) thing

Would be great if it works on people.

[LongTomH]

2. Hydergine (Ergoloid) has been used in Europe for the treatment of dementia for years

Hydergine was developed by Albert Hoffman, the discoverer of LSD. It's been prescribed in Europe for dementia and other age-related cognitive impairments, and to aid in recovery after stroke.

[lastlib]

3. Have they tested this on Ted Cruz yet??

There's a living old-rat brain for them!