Scientists find new clue to tackling brain aging
Researchers just uncovered how aging messes with our brains and sleep, and it all comes down to a molecule called SIRT6.
Led by Prof. Debra Toiber at Ben-Gurion University, the team found that SIRT6 controls how our bodies use tryptophan—a key player for mood and brain health.
This could open up new ways to spot and treat neurodegenerative diseases early on.
How it works—and why it matters
As we age, SIRT6 activity drops, which throws tryptophan metabolism off balance.
That means less serotonin and melatonin (the good stuff for mood and sleep), plus more harmful byproducts in the brain.
The cool part? In fruit fly tests, blocking a protein called TDO2 stopped brain cell damage—hinting that boosting SIRT6 or targeting TDO2 might help keep brains healthier as we get older.