Maternal X Chromosome Found to Accelerate Brain Aging in Female Mice

New research reveals that female mice with an active maternal X chromosome experience faster cognitive decline and hippocampal aging compared to those with balanced X chromosome activity.

• The study, conducted at UCSF and published in *Nature*, shows that female mice expressing only a maternal X chromosome exhibit accelerated cognitive decline and memory impairments as they age.
• Researchers identified that the maternal X chromosome speeds up biological aging in the hippocampus, a key brain region for learning and memory.
• CRISPR gene editing was used to activate silenced genes on the maternal X chromosome, improving cognitive function in aging female mice.
• The findings suggest that skewed maternal X chromosome activation in humans could increase the risk of age-related cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s.
• Future research aims to explore the role of X chromosome-linked gene expression in brain aging and potential strategies to mitigate its effects.

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