{"id":"fa6419de-1f39-47ac-b946-ea2389e344e3","slug":"could-an-old-brain-be-made-young-again","title":"Could an old brain be made young again?","authors":["Jean M. Hébert"],"abstract":"Background: As we age, our brains experience complex stochastic damage to macromolecules, including DNA, lipids, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). This damage contributes significantly to the aging process, with no existing repair mechanisms to reverse many forms of nonenzymatic damage. The ECM, composed of long-lived proteins and carbohydrates, accumulates damage that complicates the potential for reversing brain aging. Summary: The editorial discusses the potential for brain age reversal through progressive tissue replacement, leveraging neurobiological principles of plasticity and the use of brain precursor cells. It outlines a proposed technique for engineering neocortical tissue from human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, emphasizing the importance of identifying optimal fetal tissue stages and the need for progressive silencing of aged tissue. The approach aims to integrate new tissue while maintaining cognitive functions. Conclusion: While the concept of replacing aged brain tissue with pristine, damage-free tissue is promising, significant challenges remain. The development of effective techniques for tissue engineering and the safe removal of old tissue are critical for the realization of brain age reversal. Continued research in this area may eventually lead to viable therapeutic strategies. Keywords: brain aging, tissue replacement, neocortex, plasticity, extracellular matrix, stem cells, neurobiology, aging","thumbnailUrl":"https://sni-digital-videos.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/fa6419de-1f39-47ac-b946-ea2389e344e3/featured/hero-1781560643411.png","publishDate":"2022-12-23T00:00:00.000Z","doi":"10.25259/SNI_1132_2022","categories":["Spine","Editorial"],"fullTextUrl":"https://surgicalneurologyint.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/12067/SNI-13-595.pdf"}