A recent study led by David J. Horovitz, an MD/PhD student working in the laboratory of Dr. Joseph A. McQuail in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, explores the factors that contribute to maintaining cognitive function as we age. The researchers studied rats of different ages and used high-resolution imaging techniques to examine specific proteins involved in neurotransmission—the process by which neurons communicate with each other. They discovered that as the rats aged, levels of a protein responsible for promoting neural firing and driving communication between neurons decreased in certain parts of the brain which are crucial for learning and memory. In contrast, higher levels of another protein, which helps regulate brain activity and fine-tune neuronal firing, were associated with better memory. These insights open the door to new therapies aimed at helping older adults preserve cognitive function, reverse memory loss, and protect against Alzheimer's disease.

Read more about this study here: Age-related synaptic signatures of brain and cognitive reserve in the rat hippocampus and parahippocampal regions. David J. Horovitz, Laura A. Askins, Grace M. Regnier, Joseph A. McQuail, Age-Related Synaptic Signatures of Brain and Cognitive Reserve in the Rat Hippocampus and Parahippocampal Regions, Neurobiology of Aging, 2025, ISSN 0197-4580.