Discover the Key to Slowing Down Brain Aging: Unveiling the Lifespan-Extending Diet Gene

Eating right might just be the key to keeping your brain sharp and living a longer life, and scientists have figured out why. Researchers at the Buck Institute have uncovered a crucial link between cutting down on calories, keeping your brain healthy, and living longer, all thanks to a gene called OXR1.

Kenneth Wilson, PhD, a researcher at the Buck Institute leading the study, breaks it down, "When people think about cutting down on food, they usually think about how it affects their stomach or weight, but not many think about what it does to the brain. Turns out, this gene, OXR1, is a big deal for brain health."

In this study, they looked at fruit flies and human cells and found that eating less can slow down aging and help fight diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, all thanks to a special gene. OXR1 steps up to protect brain cells from aging and getting sick.

"Our research found a special response in neurons that helps keep the brain safe when you cut down on calories," says Professor Pankaj Kapahi, PhD, one of the study's leaders. "Things like intermittent fasting or eating less may boost this gene and make it even more protective."

Lisa Ellerby, PhD, another leader of the study, adds, "This gene is a big deal in keeping the brain strong as we get older and avoiding diseases."

To start, the researchers looked at 200 types of fruit flies with different diets. They discovered that certain genetic differences, including the OXR1 gene (called "mustard" or "mtd" in fruit flies), had a big impact on how long the flies lived when they ate less. Other studies showed that this gene shields cells from damage caused by oxidation, which can lead to serious brain problems and early death.

The team also found that the OXR1 gene affects something called the retromer, a group of proteins that help recycle other proteins and fats inside cells.

"The retromer is a big deal in neurons because it decides what happens to all the proteins that enter the cell," says Wilson.

This process is super important in neurons and has a link to stopping diseases that show up as we get older. The researchers say that eating less helps the retromer do its job properly, keeping our brains healthy and letting us live longer.

"Diet makes a difference for this gene. When you eat fewer calories, your cells start making more OXR1, boosting the way proteins are organized in your cells," Wilson explains.

Next up, the researchers want to find substances that can increase OXR1 levels in people, possibly slowing down brain aging and adding more years to our lives.

"I hope this study helps us understand why our brains get weaker in the first place," Wilson says. "What you eat affects everything in your body. This work shows that having a healthy diet matters more than you might think."

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