PALO ALTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — Researchers at Stanford University recently conducted a study that revealed age-related thinning of the brain’s glycocalyx—a sugary coating on blood-brain barrier cells—causes increased permeability, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment. Restoration of essential glycans enhanced barrier integrity and brain function, providing new promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
The research team, headed by Nobel winner Carolyn Bertozzi, professor of chemistry and Baker Family Director of Sarafan ChEM-H, and neuroscientist Tony Wyss-Coray, professor of neurology and neurological sciences and Director of the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, targeted the glycocalyx—a thick coating of sugar molecules that lines cells in the blood vessels of the brain.
It functions as a protective layer, controlling the flow of substances across the bloodstream and the brain. Their research showed that the glycocalyx thins and loses function with age, weakening the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. This weakening invites deleterious molecules into the brain, potentially setting off inflammation and cognitive impairment.
Using mouse models, the researchers proved that glycocalyx restoration enhanced blood-brain barrier function and cognitive ability, pointing to therapeutic avenues for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
