Russian researchers find a promising remedy to combat brain aging

December 15. /TASS/. Researchers at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University found a promising tool that in the future can help not only slow down the aging of the brain, but also improve memory, learning ability and concentration. It turned out to be a drug that reduces the reuptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, the press service of the university reported on Tuesday. Scientists from Kaliningrad have conducted experiments on laboratory rats. The animals were divided into three groups. The first group lived in standard conditions - two rats in a small cage, in other words - in a "poor environment", the second group lived in an "enriched environment" that allowed the animals to lead an active lifestyle, with toys, tunnels, a running wheel and a large space, and not to abuse calories, this is a kind of analogue of a healthy and active lifestyle. With the third group of rats, also placed in a "poor environment", the researchers tested the effect of a pharmacological drug that reduces the reuptake of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. “Based on the study's results, we concluded that rats that lived in an enriched environment <...> improved memory and learning ability. As it turned out, an increase in the level of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in the brain plays a key role in these processes norepinephrine <...> improves the plasticity of synapses and cognitive functions of the brain," the press service quotes the researcher from the Institute of Living Systems at Kant Baltic Federal University Alexander Bogdanov as saying. This is not a hormone that is released during stress, but a neurotransmitter, without which the usual way of life is disrupted - lethargy, apathy appear, problems with sleep and wakefulness may be the case. The researchers hypothesized that by slightly increasing the amount of norepinephrine in the brain with the help of a pharmacological drug, a positive effect could be seen. “In order to do so, we administered small doses of a drug that increases the concentration of norepinephrine in the brain to animals living in a "poor environment" for two weeks. As a result, these animals <...> partially improved memory and learning ability, similar to the fact that we observed in rats that were kept in an “enriched environment.” Of course, we understand that there is no magic pill that will completely replace a moderate diet, as well as physical and social activity. But still the results we got are very encouraging", said Bogdanov. The main goal of scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University was searching for a promising pharmacological way to combat brain aging. After all, not all elderly people are allowed, for example, physical activity, or a person may have metabolic syndrome, in which a simple diet will not help them. The research continues "The study of the drug was carried out on young animals. Our next task is to test the drug on a group of elderly rats. It is also worth mentioning that the drug that we used in the study is already on sale in pharmacies today, but is used for other purposes and in a very large dosage. It is especially important that this drug is not addictive, and its course using low dosages almost completely eliminates side effects. In the near future we will have a separate scientific article dedicated to this study," Bogdanov noted. The research was carried out mainly on the basis of the Institute of Living Systems at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University by researchers Yuri Pankratov and Ulyana Lalo, who work at Warrick University in the UK, and are as well research professors at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University​​​​. The results of scientific work formed the basis of Bogdanov's dissertation, which was presented at Moscow State University. The young researcher got a PhD in biological sciences in two fields at the same time: "physiology" and "neurobiology". Read more