Oleic acid - a natural source to keep the brain youthful

As we age, many people experience problems such as memory impairment, depression, or Alzheimer's disease, which completely degrades the brain's cognitive functions.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Institute for Neurological Research in Texas have developed new ways of preventing and treating these disorders by identifying a component that enables the brain to function effectively at a younger age. So, what exactly are the changes that affect the brain over time, and why does the brain lose its ability to self-regulate at a certain point?

During the study, scientists found that it is all down to oleic acid produced in the brain. It is the most important regulator of processes, including storing information, learning, and even regulating a person's mood. Thanks to this discovery, researchers can suggest new therapeutic measures and strategies for treating neurological and brain disorders.

Although scientists have believed for a long time that an older mammal's brain was incapable of self-healing, this was incorrect. Neurogenesis represents the biological process of generating new neurons. However, certain activities can reduce and slow them down through age or under the influence of certain addictions (for example, alcohol). It is oleic acid that helps maintain them. Oleic acid can be found in vegetable oils (olive, rapeseed) and animal fats.