We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.We’ve all heard of the Fountain of Youth, the legendary fountain that bestows youth upon those who drink from it; it’s pure fantasy. However, it may not be for long with the help of seafood.
A group of researchers from Stanford University, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered a peculiar effect in animals from a diet of sea squirts. Ascidiacea, or sea squirts, are sea flowers that can be found all across the ocean growing on dead coral, rocks, or even shipwrecks. Most species are poisonous, but the ones that aren’t are eaten raw in Korean and Japanese cuisine. They contain plasmalogens, which are essential for the human body to function.
Plasmalogens are a type of lipid, or fat molecule, found all over the human body. They are abundant in the heart, brain, and immune cells and are essential for protection, structure, and neurotransmitters. As our bodies age, plasmalogens gradually die out, leading to various neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This led researchers to investigate ways to restore plasmalogens in hopes of slowing down these changes.
In order to do this, scientists used a common experiment called the Morris water maze, in which mice navigate a pool of water for a hidden platform. Young mice typically remembered the platform’s location quickly, while older mice generally took more time, showing the decline in learning and memory that comes with age. After five days of the experiment, older mice receiving plasmalogen supplements started to perform similarly to the younger mice. They found the platform remarkably faster than the aged mice without the supplement. Upon examination, researchers found a vast improvement in brain functions, allowing for better memory and learning.
Although still unclear how the dietary plasmalogen supplement can improve these brain functions, researchers believe it might be a potential strategy to slow neurodegeneration and promote neuroregeneration. The idea that seafood could influence aging may sound whimsical, but the research hints at real biological potential, and it’s especially encouraging for people who can’t eat seafood, since plasmalogens can be extracted and supplemented without requiring the whole organism.
Of course, this doesn’t mean sea squirts are about to replace your skincare routine or that eating sashimi will turn back the clock. The research is still in early stages, and results in mice don’t always translate directly to humans. But the study opens the door to new possibilities: treatments that preserve memory, protect the brain, and improve quality of life as we age.
The Fountain of Youth may remain a myth, but science is inching closer to understanding how to keep our brains healthier for longer, and the secret might just come from one of the ocean’s strangest residents.
