The Brain Rejuvenation Switch: Turning Off FTL1 Restores Memory ─ "Aging" Reversed by Just One Molecule

UCSF has identified the iron-related protein FTL1 as a central molecule in brain aging and memory decline. FTL1 was found to increase in the hippocampus of aged mice, and this increase is linked to synapse loss and cognitive decline. Increasing FTL1 in young mice induced "aging-like" changes, while reducing FTL1 in aged mice led to the recovery of synaptic markers and improvement in memory tests. Furthermore, FTL1 is also involved in metabolic decline, and boosting metabolism with substances like NADH may mitigate its adverse effects. The study was published in **Nature Aging (August 19, 2025)**. On social media, excitement over the "discovery of the brain aging switch" is mixed with cautionary notes against overgeneralization from mouse studies. For clinical application, safe targeting, combination with metabolic treatments, and the development of biomarkers are crucial.