Researchers from Israel found an important protein termed SIRT6. It plays a vital part in brain function. This may aid in creating novel therapies for insomnia, depression, and age-related memory impairments.
Central to the study is the amino acid tryptophan. It enters the body through diet and is necessary for producing serotonin and melatonin, the investigators report. Serotonin impacts mood and learning ability, while melatonin controls sleep and biological rhythms. However, tryptophan can be processed through another route—the so-called kynurenine pathway. In that scenario, substances harmful to nerve cells are generated.
The scientists discovered that the SIRT6 protein acts like a “regulator,” assisting the body in directing tryptophan toward the beneficial “route”—for making serotonin and melatonin. With advancing age and in certain illnesses, SIRT6 activity diminishes. Consequently, beneficial compounds decrease, and toxic ones increase, which might lead to issues with sleep, mood, and cognition.
These alterations can be partly reversed. In experiments on cells, flies, and mice, the researchers managed to modify the operation of associated genes and lessen the buildup of harmful substances in the brain.
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