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Wouldn’t it be good for us older (admittedly I’m only 52) people to have brains that are genetically similar to younger people.
Well, this is the question a group of researchers set out to answer by looking at what are known as the methyl tags in the DNA of the brains of mice. These tags are a genetic mechanism by which genes are activated or deactivated.
What they found in two groups of mice is that one group had activated tags that resembled the brains of younger mice particularly in an area called the hippocampus which is heavily involved in learning and memory. The other group had multiple changes in their DNA which is a sign of ageing.
You may therefore wonder, what was the difference between these two groups of mice?
The difference is that one group was kept in a stimulating environment with plenty of things to play with in the world of mice — this included things like tubes and running wheels. And the other group was kept in a low-stimulus environment.
These current findings from studies in mice provide clues as to why an active, varied life can help preserve mental fitness in old age.
