Senile Brain Diseases... The Problem Was Excess "Nado-neun Dang"

KAIST Research Team Identifies Cause of Brain Meninges Dysfunction

Domestic researchers have succeeded in confirming how the brain changes and develops disorders as sugar accumulates in the body with aging. This is expected to aid in the development of treatments for various brain diseases.

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 15th that a joint research team led by Professors Kim Pilnam and Jung Yong from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering confirmed that sugar accumulation in the brain meninges (also known as brain membranes or brain meninges) with aging causes dysfunction in their role as the 'frontline defense wall' surrounding the cerebral cortex.

＜Substance Influx Through the Meninges Decreases with Aging＞

It was confirmed that the degree of adsorption of fluorescent substances contained in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to the meninges increases in aged mice, while the degree of entry around the cerebral blood vessels decreases. This study only confirmed the influx of substances entering the brain, but future research will be able to verify the extent of efflux as well.

＜Image source=Provided by KAIST＞

With the increase in average age, research on brain changes due to normal aging without severe brain diseases is also becoming necessary. As aging progresses, sugar accumulates in the body, and this accumulated sugar becomes a causative agent for various diseases such as aging-related inflammation and vascular diseases. Ultimately, 'excess sugar molecules' attach to various proteins in the body, interfering with their functions.

The research team confirmed excessive accumulation of sugar molecules in the meninges of elderly individuals and also verified age-related sugar accumulation in mouse models. The meninges are thin membranes surrounding the brain, located at the boundary between cerebrospinal fluid and the cortex, playing an important role in protecting the brain. This study revealed that dysfunction of the meninges caused by aging is induced by the 'excess' sugar in the brain. In particular, it provided a new paradigm for understanding the mechanism by which the meninges become thinner and stickier with aging, reducing material exchange between cerebrospinal fluid and the cerebral cortex.

The research results were published online on the 28th of last month in the international journal Aging Cell.

The meninges, which are in direct contact with cerebrospinal fluid, are mainly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins called collagen, and consist of fibroblasts, the cells that produce these proteins. When collagen proteins with adsorbed sugar and attached cells are present, collagen production decreases, while the expression of collagen-degrading enzymes increases, causing the meninges to continuously thin and deteriorate.

＜Representative Schematic Diagram of Research on Changes in Meningeal Properties Due to Aging＞

The research team observed physical and cellular changes resulting from alterations in the matrix properties of the meninges themselves. With aging, the meninges accumulate sugars, undergoing changes that make them harder and stickier, which causes brain-cerebrospinal fluid transport substances to adhere and obstruct passage. Additionally, a decrease in the amount of type 1 collagen composing the membrane leads to a thinning of its thickness.

＜Image Source=KAIST＞

Research on the accumulation of excess sugar molecules in the brain due to continuous sugar intake and its relationship with neurodegeneration and brain diseases has been ongoing. However, this study is the first to focus on the meninges themselves and confirm meningeal degeneration and dysfunction caused by sugar accumulation, which is expected to suggest new therapeutic approaches in brain disease research.

The research team is conducting research and development to remove sugar accumulated throughout the human body, including the meninges. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are residues formed when proteins and sugars meet in the body, are partially removed by macrophages. However, glycation products bound to extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen are difficult to remove naturally.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.