Stem Cells in the Hypothalamus Can Control Aging

In a recent study, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, found that as soon as the mice reached 10 month, there was a decline of stem cells in the hypothalamus. The scientists noticed that when they disrupted the stem cells, they had also accelerated the aging of mice because of their premature death as opposed to the mice that aged naturally. Scientists wanted to find out if by increasing the number of stem cells, whether it would reverse the effects of aging in mice. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecules that are release by the stem cells when they begin to act on slowing the aging process. Dongsheng Cai, M.D., PhD.,  a professor of molecular pharmacology at Einstein College of Medicine, withdrew exosomes that contain miRNA from the hypothalamus and injected them into two groups of middle-aged mice. One group had their stem cells plummet and the other were considered "normal." The aging process for both sets of groups had decelerated was noticed through behavioral testing. This study could be an advancement in treating diseases that are age- associated (i.e. Alzheimer's Disease).