Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have reported that increasing levels of the protein Sox9 in astrocytes – star-shaped support cells in the brain – can reduce amyloid plaque buildup and preserve cognitive function in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published Saturday, May 2, in Nature Neuroscience.
Sox9 regulates the activity of many genes in aging astrocytes, and its levels decline with age, the study stated. By manipulating Sox9 expression, researchers observed that higher Sox9 levels triggered astrocytes to ingest and clear amyloid plaques, while lower levels led to faster plaque accumulation and simpler astrocyte structure. Mice with elevated Sox9 maintained better memory and cognitive performance over six months, suggesting that activating astrocytes may slow mental decline associated with the disease.
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