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Hypothalamic Menin regulates systemic aging and cognitive decline (plos.org)
57 points by bookofjoe on March 17, 2023 | hide | past | favorite | 13 comments



This is a bit alarming, in that menin inhibitors are promising anticancer drugs.

https://www.targetedonc.com/view/menin-inhibitors-may-shape-...


Since the effects the study sees are related to menin levels in the hypothalamus specifically, I wonder, could targeted treatments of some kind still work? Maybe menin can be inhibited at tumor-related sites specifically or raised in the hypothalamus specifically, to separate the opposing effects?


Perhaps look for an inhibitor that doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier?

Anyway, this may give some human data on the question here, independent of the anticancer effects.

I'm sure this will come up in the approval process.


Archive [1]

How do we test this in humans? Supplement D-serine [2] and have a control group?

[1] - https://archive.ph/GZjKL

[2] - https://examine.com/supplements/d-serine/


It seems that simply increasing D-serine has some of the benefits of increased menin levels in the hypothalamus, but not all of them. It's downstream, metabolically.


From the Wikipedia page, its formation in neurons can be blocked. So maybe the preventative is to prevent and look for signs of blockage. I am totally out of my field here.


With these constant advancements in mice, they should have virtually immortal rodents by now. ;)


That's an interesting question! How long can modern science make a mice live? The oldest known mice lives in a zoo and had its 9th birthday last February. [0] I would have hoped for a mice in an aging research laboratory, but my quick search couldn't find cases with more than 5 years.

[0]: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/09/pat-pocket-m...


(In mice)


> Menin signaling diminished in aged mice, which correlates with systemic aging and cognitive deficits.

Goddamnit.


Some day we will have ensured super genius mice will live forever. Douglas Adams is proven right once again.


That day may come, I'm more worried about creating mice smart enough to avoid or disarm traps.


This has been written about for decades, Flowers for Algernon, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, and though it was by training instead of experimentation, Ratman's Notebooks.




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