Spermidine cures flies of senior moments

摘要

In many species of animals—invertebrates and vertebrates alike—memory performance declines with age1. So-called age-related memory impairment of aversive olfactory memory is seen in Drosophila melanogaster, and this has been used as a model system to study molecular mechanisms of cognitive decline. Previously, polyamines such as spermidine and putrescine have been found to promote lifespan by augmenting autophagy2. Autophagy is a cellular process in which organelles, cellular debris and proteins are degraded3. Gupta et al.A now link polyamine function to age-related memory function independent of organismal age, and report in this issue of Nature Neuroscience that, in Drosophila, a dietary supplement of spermidine protects against cognitive aging.