A widely studied anti-aging treatment triggered significant brain damage in mice, according to new research from the University of Connecticut. The drug combination dasatinib plus quercetin caused myelin loss and changes resembling those seen in multiple sclerosis. The findings raise questions about its use in longevity studies and off-label therapies.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut tested the dasatinib-quercetin combination on both young and old mice. They found that the treatment reduced protective myelin layers around nerve fibers in the brain, with younger animals showing greater damage than older ones. The corpus callosum also deteriorated in treated mice, producing effects similar to those described as chemo brain in humans undergoing chemotherapy.