In the course of the study, scientists accidentally managed to slow down the aging process of the brain in laboratory mice using ultrasound or sound wave therapy.
Dr. Robert Hutch of the University of Queensland said the researchers used the technique to stop routine changes in the structure of cells in the hippocampus - an important area of the brain for learning and remembering - so that people can regulate their brains in the future, much like a car.
However, he said, the result was unexpected for scientists.
Hutch noted that they were working on the topic of last year's study, which found that ultrasound could treat Alzheimer's disease in mice.
They hoped to confirm that sound therapy did not harm a healthy brain, but then realized that they had made another important discovery - they found a way to slow the aging process of the brain.
"We have found that by exposing mice to ultrasound, you can slow or stop structural changes in brain cells that occur with age."
A study by scientists from the University of Queensland was published in the online journal PLoS One.
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Finding a way to make the brain "forever young"
Scientists are now investigating whether the findings could help stop the memory and learning impairments associated with brain aging.
“Our idea is that if you can keep the structure of your brain young, then you can keep it functioning,” said Dr. Hutch.
According to him, ultrasound activates the "immune cells" of the brain.
"Activating them helps clear toxic proteins, and our idea is that it enables the cells to keep the brain in a healthier state."
The scientist said that if they can understand how age-related changes in the brain proceed, it will help develop new treatments for dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
“Thus, conducting an ultrasound scan procedure can help preserve the structure of your brain,” the scientist concluded.
Sergey Lukavsky