A new discovery shows that the accumulation of a certain protein called the ferritin light chain 1, or FTL1, plays a big role. In experiments with mice, scientists found that less FTL1 present in neural cells promoted healthier, younger brains. Related Story Scientists Opened a Portal Into the Human MindIn another installment of this ongoing research to improve the aging brain, scientists from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) identified a protein that’s central to aging the brain in humans. The researchers hope that by targeting FTL1, future therapies may not only improve natural cognitive decline, but will also benefit people with neurodegenerative diseases. But with each new study, scientists work toward a holistic picture of neurodegenerative decline as we age, and with that new perspective comes the hope of new therapies that could make cognitive decline a thing of the past.