The majority of neurodegenerative diseases have an important age
component, and thus, understanding the molecular changes that occur
during normal aging of the brain is of utmost relevance. In search for
the basis of the age-related cognitive decline found in humans, monkeys
and rodents, we study the rhesus monkey. Surprisingly, there is no loss
of neurons in aged monkey brains. However, we reported white matter and
myelin abnormalities in aged monkeys, similar to those observed in
Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis
patients.
In a microarray analysis comparing young and old monkey white
matter, we discovered that Klotho is downregulated in the aged brain. If
there is a connection between the age-related
cognitive decline, myelin abnormalities and Klotho downregulation., compounds that upregulate Klotho expression
could become of therapeutic interest for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, and perhaps even Alzheimer's disease.
Labels: Klotho