UCSF Study Links FTL1 Protein to Reversible Cognitive Aging in Mice

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, have identified a protein called FTL1 as a primary driver of age-related cognitive decline in the brain, with experiments in mice showing that lowering its levels can reverse memory loss and restore neural connections. The study, published in the journal Nature Aging in 2025, focused on the hippocampus, the brain region essential for learning and memory, and has garnered renewed attention in early 2026 for its potential implications in treating human cognitive aging.

Led by Saul Villeda, associate director of the UCSF Bakar Aging Research Institute, the research team compared brain tissue from young and older mice. They found that FTL1, an iron-associated component of the ferritin complex that stores iron in cells, accumulates significantly in the hippocampus as mice age. This buildup correlates with structural changes in neurons, including fewer branches and weakened connections between cells, as well as reduced energy production that impairs overall brain function. Older mice exhibited poorer performance on memory and learning tasks, reflecting the cognitive slowdown typical of aging.