Key points from article :
Researchers at UCSF and the University of Queensland, led by Saul Villeda, have discovered a protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4) that rejuvenates the old brain and boosts the young brain.
PF4 is released by blood platelets and is thought to work by calming down the aged immune system and promoting new neural connections.
Injections of PF4 from the blood of young mice into old mice improved their performance on memory and learning tasks.
PF4 also boosted brain function in young mice, suggesting that there is room to improve cognitive function even in younger brains.
The researchers are hopeful that their findings could lead to new therapies for age-related cognitive decline.
The findings are published in three different journals Nature, Nature Aging, and Nature Communications.
