--- title: "“The Mice Became Smarter”: New Treatment Restores Aging Brains" description: "Scientists say they've devised antibodies that block a specific gene related to brain aging — causing old mice to regain lost cognitive abilities." date: "2019-04-05" modified: "2019-04-05" authors: - name: "Jon Christian" job_title: "Executive Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jonc" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/mice-smarter-treatment-aging-brains" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "Treatments" tags: - "Aging" - "brain" - "mice" - "the digest" --- # “The Mice Became Smarter”: New Treatment Restores Aging Brains ![Scientists say they've devised antibodies that block a specific gene related to brain aging — causing old mice to regain lost cognitive abilities.]() *\Image: Gerd Altmann via Pixabay/Tag Hartman-Simkins\* ## Antibodies for Algernon Scientists at Stanford University say they've devised antibodies that block a specific gene related to brain aging — and that it's giving old mice the cognitive prowess of younger ones. "The mice became smarter," senior author Tony Wyss-Coray said in [a statement](). "Blocking \[the gene\] CD22 on their microglia restored their cognitive function to the level of younger mice. CD22 is a new target we think can be exploited for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases." ## Dr. Mouse In [findings]() published in the journal *Nature* *—* and which *New Atlas* [called]() "a stunning piece of research" — the scientists identified a gene called CD22. It shows up in both mice and humans, and seemingly hinders the ability of certain cells to promote normal brain activity. The gene was also, tellingly, more prevalent in older mice than young ones. Armed with that knowledge, the researchers designed antibodies that block CD22 and injected them into the brains of test mice. After a month, the mice that'd been injected with the antibodies outperformed their peers on several intelligence tests. ## Gene Hack The research is a long way from human trials, but the implication is that it may be possible to reverse some cognitive effects of aging, including, according to the researchers, those associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. "We think we may have discovered a way to get these cells back on track and make them work the way they used to when we were young," Wyss-Coray said in the statement. **READ MORE:** [Stanford team develops brain-rejuvenating antibodies that let old mice think like youngsters]() \[*New Atlas*\] **More on brain aging:** *[Neurologists May Have Discovered a Key Ally in the Fight Against Brain Aging]()* ## Author I'm responsible for editing, assigning, and scouting at Futurism, as well as occasionally writing for the site. That work involves keeping an eye on a wide range of narratives and issues, but over the past few years I've become increasingly interested in how AI is shaping the future of media, the web, and information itself. My day-to-day often involves collaborating on reporting and commentary projects bylined by my colleagues, but I try to find time to do my own reporting as well; stories I've broken for Futurism have been cited by publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, Wired, Ars Technica, New York Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, Bloomberg, and more. I grew up in Southern Vermont and attended Vanderbilt University. Prior to Futurism, I contributed to outlets including the Boston Globe, Vice, Wired, Slate, the Atlantic, the Outline, Ars Technica and more, and did stints in farming and food service. I currently live in Brooklyn, New York, and in my free time I enjoy pinball, word games, cycling, running, and music production. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()