GDF11 reverses mood and memory declines in aging

Abstract

Aging is known to be associated with a decline in memory and mood, but the molecular mechanisms that underlie these changes remain unclear. Moigneu, Abdellaoui and colleagues show that growth differentiation factor 11 reverses deficits in these functions in aged mice, pointing the way towards a novel pro-mnemonic and antidepressant therapeutic target.

Fig. 1 |. GDF11 supplementation reverses age-related deficits in mood and memory.

a, Age-related decline in serum GDF11 is associated with impairments in memory and anxio-depressive-like behaviors, which can be ameliorated in aged mice through chronic treatment with exogenous GDF11 supplementation. b, Mechanistically, GDF11 acts on hippocampal neurons, binding to TGFβ superfamily receptors to increase Deptor, inhibiting mTOR and thus promoting autophagy. This cascade of events results in an improvement in memory and the anxio-depressive-like phenotype in aged mice by promoting hippocampal neuronal metabolic capacity and synaptic health.