Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have made significant progress in developing a treatment to enhance cognitive function in older individuals. Through a study conducted on rhesus macaques, which share similarities with humans in terms of cognitive decline, it was discovered that a single injection of the protein klotho can boost brainpower in older monkeys.
Klotho is a protein named after the Greek mythological figure Clotho, who spun the thread of human life. People with naturally high levels of klotho due to a genetic quirk display better cognitive function and have a reduced risk of developing dementia. The scientists behind this study aimed to investigate whether increasing klotho levels could enhance thinking skills.
The study involved 18 macaques with an average age of almost 22, equivalent to a 65-year-old human. A subset of these monkeys received an injection of klotho at a level comparable to that seen in humans at birth. The monkeys who received the injection performed better in a memory test requiring them to remember the location of a food treat among multiple possible locations after a delay of up to 32 seconds.
The researchers conclude that their findings suggest peripheral treatment or replenishment with klotho could have therapeutic effects on aging humans, given the decline in klotho levels during human aging. Neuroscientist Dr. Dena Dubai, senior author of the study, highlights the potential of klotho as an anti-aging solution: “Ageing is the biggest risk factor for cognitive problems, and cognitive problems are one of the biggest biomedical challenges that we face. Why don’t we just block ageing?” The researchers who initially discovered klotho found that higher levels of the protein correlated with a longer lifespan.
Klotho is believed to enhance brainpower by improving the function of synapses, the gaps between brain cells through which they communicate using electrical signals. In the monkeys injected with klotho, the cognitive boost lasted for at least two weeks.
Dr. Dena Dubai emphasizes the importance of conducting clinical trials to determine if klotho can truly be an effective treatment to maintain brain health in older individuals. Dementia, an umbrella term for progressive neurological disorders affecting memory, thinking, and behavior, is a global concern. The Alzheimer’s Society reports that there are currently over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and this number is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
While there is currently no cure for dementia, new drugs can slow down its progression, and early detection leads to more effective treatments. The study on klotho offers hope for the development of a potential treatment that could improve cognitive function in aging individuals.
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