A study led by Ma Huan at Zhejiang University suggests that the spleen plays a significant role in female cognitive aging. Published in the journal Neuron, the research identifies a biological pathway involving the X chromosome-linked protein RBMX and the microRNA miR-10a-5p. As women reach middle age, this mechanism triggers cellular senescence in the brain by suppressing energy-regulating proteins in neurons. Unlike previous theories focusing solely on estrogen, this study highlights how peripheral organs influence brain health. By observing mice and human tissue, scientists demonstrated that inhibiting this specific microRNA could potentially mitigate cognitive decline. These findings indicate that midlife is a critical period for intervention and suggest that blood tests could eventually serve as early indicators for brain-aging risks, potentially allowing for treatments that do not require crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Source : [Sixth Tone](https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1019063/Spleen May Affect Cognitive Decline in Women, Says Chinese Study)
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