Bundle of cells hold out hope of slowing ageing

A VITAL pea-sized component of the brain may be the key to holding back ageing and extending human lifespan, research suggests.

The hypothalamus, a small bundle of neurons at the base of the brain, governs how quickly the body ages, scientists have learned. Tests on laboratory mice pinpointed ageing control to a tiny population of adult stem cells within the brain region.

The cells appear to keep a tight reign on ageing. As their numbers decline naturally with passing time, or if their function is disrupted, the body’s organs and metabolic processes age faster and death occurs earlier.

Humans are likely to respond to the influence of hypothalamus stem cells in just the same way, the scientists believe.

Professor Dongsheng Cai, from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said: “Our research shows that the number of hypothalamic neural stem cells naturally declines over the life of the animal, and this decline accelerates ageing.

“But we also found that the effects of this loss are not irreversible. By replenishing these stem cells or the molecules they produce, it’s possible to slow and even reverse various aspects of ageing throughout the body.”

The hypothalamus acts like a computer’s central processing unit , regulating a wide range of biological functions in the body and linking nerves and hormones.

One of its most important jobs is to maintain homeostasis – keeping different parts of the body working in a constantly stable, balanced way.

Prof Cai’s research is reported in the journal Nature.