TheDigger Intelligence Unit
Scientists have found a brain protein that may play a role in ageing. Experiments in mice show that restoring this protein or adding a basic amino acid can reverse some age-related decline.
How Menin Affects Ageing
Menin is a protein found in many tissues of the body, including the brain. It is best known for its role in gene regulation and has been linked to certain diseases, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia.
In the brain—particularly in the hypothalamus—Menin helps regulate key processes related to ageing and inflammation.
As mice age, Menin levels decline sharply in the hypothalamus. This loss triggers inflammation, memory problems, bone loss, and other changes commonly seen with ageing.
Restoring Menin in older mice reversed many of these symptoms, leading to improvements in memory, balance, skin thickness, and bone density.
These findings suggest that Menin may act as a protective ‘anti-ageing’ factor. Researchers are now investigating whether Menin has similar effects in humans, and how it might interact with other proteins and pathways involved in ageing.
The Link Between Menin and D-Serine
Menin also controls the production of D-serine, an amino acid and neurotransmitter crucial for learning and memory. When Menin levels drop, D-serine levels decrease.
Supplementing older mice with D-serine improved their cognitive abilities, although physical signs of ageing remained unaffected.
Importantly, D-serine levels also decline with age in humans. Lower D-serine has been linked to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, though further studies are needed to confirm these associations.
This connection suggests that Menin’s regulation of D-serine may be significant for both brain ageing and disease in humans.
What Mouse Studies Reveal
In one study, older mice that received Menin gene therapy improved within 30 days, showing better memory, balance, and physical health.
In another, three weeks of D-serine supplements boosted their thinking skills. These results suggest Menin and D-serine may work together to influence ageing and cognitive function.
However, while these interventions are promising in mice, their long-term safety and effectiveness in humans remain unclear. High doses of D-serine could have side effects, and any therapies targeting Menin would need rigorous testing before use in people.
These findings underscore both the potential and the caution necessary when translating animal research into human treatments.
The Hypothalamus: A Key Ageing Hub
The hypothalamus is a small but important brain region that controls metabolism, hormone secretion, and stress responses. Scientists now see it as a command centre for ageing.
Recent studies suggest that changes in the hypothalamus may initiate ageing throughout the body and contribute to brain diseases.
What This Could Mean for Humans
Taken together, these findings could help guide the development of new therapies for age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.
Yet, many questions remain. Scientists are still working to understand exactly how Menin influences brain ageing, whether other molecules or pathways are involved, and how lifestyle or environmental factors might affect Menin levels. Addressing these questions will be crucial for future research.
This study fits into a broader landscape of research exploring how the brain ages. Other proteins and pathways—such as sirtuins and the insulin/IGF-1 signalling pathway—have also been implicated in regulating ageing and cognitive health.
Understanding where Menin fits within this complex network will shape how scientists approach brain ageing and develop treatments going forward.
Although results in mice are promising, scientists caution that these findings may not directly translate to humans. More research is needed to determine whether boosting Menin or supplementing D-serine can safely and effectively slow ageing in people.
As lead researcher, Lige Leng explained: “Menin may be the key protein connecting genetic, inflammatory, and metabolic factors of ageing.
While D-serine shows promise in mice for cognitive decline, its effects and safety in humans have yet to be determined.”