Published on: Jan 20, 2026
Researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have identified a key transcription factor that can restore neural stem cell regeneration, potentially counteracting age-related declines in neuronal production in the ageing brain.
Led by Assistant Professor Ong Sek Tong Derrick and first author Dr Liang Yajing, the study investigated the biological mechanisms underlying neural stem cell degeneration with age. Using human-derived neural stem cells and laboratory models of premature ageing, the team examined the role of DMTF1 in regulating stem cell activity, particularly in cells affected by telomere dysfunction—a hallmark of ageing.
The researchers found that DMTF1 levels are reduced in aged neural stem cells and that restoring its expression alone is sufficient to recover their regenerative capacity. The study also uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism by which DMTF1 regulates helper genes, including Arid2 and Ss18, which promote chromatin opening and activate growth-related genes essential for stem cell renewal.
These findings advance our understanding of neural stem cell regeneration and its role in neurological ageing,” said Assistant Professor Ong. “They provide a strong foundation for developing therapeutic strategies to address age-related cognitive decline.
Overall, the results highlight DMTF1 as a promising therapeutic target, with future research aimed at safely enhancing its activity to rejuvenate ageing neural stem cells and potentially improve learning and memory.
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