Rejuvenating the blood and bone marrow to slow aging-associated cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease

Parabiosis, blood exchange and plasma transfer experiments have highlighted the rejuvenating properties of young blood. Our Communications Biology study demonstrated that young bone marrow transplantation attenuates cognitive decline in old mice, with preservation of hippocampal synapses and reduced microglial reactivity. We now discuss subsequent studies that shed additional light on how blood impacts cognitive function, and potential clinical applications, including ongoing clinical trials with young plasma and experimental strategies targeting the hematopoietic system to slow or reverse cognitive decline. Research from Helen Goodridge and Clive Svendsen’s groups published in Communications Biology showed that young bone marrow transplantation slows down cognitive decline in old mice. The authors now discuss subsequent studies examining the relationship between blood components and aging-associated cognitive impairment and rejuvenation as well as their own ongoing work.