How Aging May Alter Brain Cell Genetic Activity?

Based on new brain mapping research, scientists have discovered that not all cell types in the brain age in the same way. They found that some cells, such as a small group of hormone-controlling cells, may undergo more age-related changes in genetic activity than others. The results are published in Nature.

Scientists used advanced genetic analysis tools to study individual cells in the brains of 2-month-old “young” and 18-month-old “aged” mice. For each age, researchers analysed the genetic activity of a variety of cell types located in 16 different broad regions — constituting 35% of the total volume of a mouse brain.

Like previous studies, the initial results showed a decrease in the activity of genes associated with neuronal circuits. These decreases were seen in neurons, the primary circuitry cells, as well as in “glial” cells called astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, which can support neural signaling by controlling neurotransmitter levels and electrically insulating nerve fibers. In contrast, aging increased the activity of genes associated with the brain’s immunity and inflammatory systems, as well as brain blood vessel cells.

Further analysis helped spot which cell types may be the most sensitive to aging. The cells that appeared to be the most sensitive to aging surround the third ventricle.

Reference: Jin, K., Yao, Z., van Velthoven, C.T.J. et al. Brain-wide cell-type-specific transcriptomic signatures of healthy ageing in mice. Nature (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08350-8