Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Tricking old bees to do work of younger bees can reverse brain ageing

In a typical hive, you'll see younger bees caring for the larvae (adjacent picture) while the the older bees forage for food. Now, Gro Amdam, who studies ageing in bees at Arizona State University, observed tremendous improvements in cognition and brain functions among older bees that turn their attention back to nursing the la
rvae. When the young bees were removed from the hive, some of the older foragers will soon take on their work. And half the bees that returned to caring the larvae showed an increased ability to learn new things. They also showed less signs of ageing that are normally shown by older bees: worn wings, hairless bodies, and more importantly, loss of brain function.

The researchers also discovered changes in the proteins in the brains of the bees that had learned new things. One of these proteins, which is also found in humans, is called Prx6, and is known to help protect against dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

And hence, Gro Amdam also asserts that changes in social behavior could shave years off the human brain as well.

Source:
1) https://asunews.asu.edu/20120702_bee_brainaging
2) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2170606/The-secret-staying-young-How-thinking-like-bee-reverse-brain-aging.html
3) http://www.messagetoeagle.com/beesagingcomputers.php#.UKVCjYbuq8I
4) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=changing-social-roles-can-reverse-aging
5) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/359372/20120704/older-bees-time-reverse-aging-effects-dementia.htm

Photo by: Bente Smedal
Tricking old bees to do work of younger bees can reverse brain ageing

In a typical hive, you'll see younger bees caring for the larvae (adjacent picture) while the the older bees forage for food. Now, Gro Amdam, who studies ageing in bees at Arizona State University, observed tremendous improvements in cognition and brain functions among older bees that turn their attention back to nursing the larvae. When the young bees were removed from the hive, some of the older foragers will soon take on their work. And half the bees that returned to caring the larvae showed an increased ability to learn new things. They also showed less signs of ageing that are normally shown by older bees: worn wings, hairless bodies, and more importantly, loss of brain function.

The researchers also discovered changes in the proteins in the brains of the bees that had learned new things. One of these proteins, which is also found in humans, is called Prx6, and is known to help protect against dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

And hence, Gro Amdam also asserts that changes in social behavior could shave years off the human brain as well.

Source:
1) https://asunews.asu.edu/20120702_bee_brainaging
2) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2170606/The-secret-staying-young-How-thinking-like-bee-reverse-brain-aging.html
3) http://www.messagetoeagle.com/beesagingcomputers.php#.UKVCjYbuq8I
4) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=changing-social-roles-can-reverse-aging
5) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/359372/20120704/older-bees-time-reverse-aging-effects-dementia.htm

Photo by: Bente Smedal

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