A new study examining sea squirts aging suggests compounds linked to the edible marine animals may counter several hallmarks of aging in mice, including memory decline and hair changes, according to a team from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Stanford University, Stanford University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Sea squirts aging study and anti-aging compounds
An Unusual Source of Anti-Aging Compounds
Sea squirts, eaten in parts of Asia as meongge in Korea and hoya in Japan, are rich in plasmalogens, a class of membrane lipids abundant in the brain, heart, and immune cells. These molecules typically decrease with age and have been found at reduced levels in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers added plasmalogens to the diets of aged mice and then assessed behavioral and physical outcomes.
The treated animals showed marked gains in learning and visible physical changes. The study’s corresponding author, Professor Lei Fu, said the data indicate plasmalogens may not only halt cognitive decline but also reverse impairments in older brains. He added that aged mice receiving the supplement grew new black hair that appeared thicker and glossier than that of untreated peers. The team described the work as the first detailed analysis of how plasmalogens could affect the aging brain.
Aging Mice Show Improved Memory
To test learning and memory, scientists used the Morris water maze, which trains mice to locate a hidden platform in a pool. After five days, aged mice given plasmalogens performed closer to younger animals, finding the platform significantly faster than untreated aged mice.
Subsequent brain analysis found a higher number of synapses in treated mice and evidence that these synapses were in better condition. Synapses are the contact points that enable neurons to communicate and are central to learning and memory.
Restoring Connections in the Aging Brain
Synaptic plasticity is robust early in life but tends to decline with age and in neurodegenerative disease. In this experiment, aged mice receiving plasmalogens appeared more capable of forming new neural connections and learning new tasks than those on a normal diet, suggesting dietary plasmalogens may help preserve synapses against age-related deterioration.
The researchers also reported substantially lower brain inflammation in plasmalogen-treated mice. While inflammation is part of normal immune defense, chronic neuroinflammation can disrupt neural communication and is considered a contributor to several neurodegenerative disorders. The observed reduction could help explain the behavioral improvements.
How Plasmalogens Might Work
The precise mechanisms remain under study. Professor Fu said the team observed increases in molecules that support the growth and development of neurons and synapses, pointing to potential neuroregeneration. He also noted growing evidence that plasmalogens can alter the structural properties of synaptic membranes, potentially increasing their fluidity and affecting signal transmission.
The team highlighted the gut-brain axis as another pathway. Some studies suggest dietary plasmalogens can influence gut microorganisms, which in turn may affect brain function through immune and metabolic routes. This connection could contribute to the learning and memory gains observed in the mice.
Could Plasmalogens Eventually Help People?
Professor Fu said he personally takes a plasmalogen supplement and views the results as a potential strategy to halt neurodegeneration and promote neuroregeneration. He said oral intake of plasmalogens could be a feasible approach to bolster cognition in older adults.
Researchers cautioned that the findings come from an animal model. Improvements in mice do not establish that eating sea squirts or taking plasmalogen supplements will reverse aging in humans. Further work is needed to determine whether similar effects occur in people, appropriate doses, and long-term safety.
Even so, the results open a line of inquiry. A compound tied to a widely consumed marine animal may offer scientists a fresh avenue for studying how aging alters the brain and whether some of those changes can be slowed or reversed, echoing broader questions about how dietary substances can shape health across the lifespan.