Now, researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a protein that's at the center of this decline.

They looked at how the genes and proteins in the hippocampus changed over time in mice and found just one that differed between old and young animals. It's called FTL1.

Old mice had more FTL1, as well as fewer connections between brain cells in the hippocampus and diminished cognitive abilities.

When the researchers artificially increased FTL1 levels in young mice, their brains and behavior began to resemble that of old mice.

In experiments in petri dishes, nerve cells engineered to make lots of FTL1 grew simple, one-armed neurites -- rather than the branching neurites that normal cells create.

But once the scientists reduced the amount of FTL1 in the hippocampus of the old mice, they regained their youth. They had more connections between nerve cells, and the mice did better on memory tests.

"It is truly a reversal of impairments," said Saul Villeda, PhD, associate director of the UCSF Bakar Aging Research Institute and senior author of the paper, which appears in Nature Aging on Aug. 19. "It's much more than merely delaying or preventing symptoms."

In old mice, FTL1 also slowed down metabolism in the cells of the hippocampus. But treating the cells with a compound that stimulates metabolism prevented these effects.

Villeda is optimistic the work could lead to therapies that block the effects of FTL1 in the brain.

"We're seeing more opportunities to alleviate the worst consequences of old age," he said. "It's a hopeful time to be working on the biology of aging."

Authors: Other UCSF authors are Laura Remesal, PhD, Juliana Sucharov-Costa, Karishma J.B. Pratt, PhD, Gregor Bieri, PhD, Amber Philp, PhD, Mason Phan, Turan Aghayev, MD, PhD, Charles W. White III, PhD, Elizabeth G. Wheatley, PhD, Brandon R. Desousa, Isha H. Jian, Jason C. Maynard, PhD, and Alma L. Burlingame, PhD. For all authors see the paper.

Funding: This work was funded in part by the Simons Foundation, Bakar Family Foundation, National Science Foundation, Hillblom Foundation, Bakar Aging Research Institute, Marc and Lynne Benioff, and the National Institutes of Health (AG081038, AG067740, AG062357, P30 DK063720). For all funding see the paper.

A new article, co-authored by Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, argues that listening isn't just a nice gesture, it's a powerful tool that can improve your care and even help heal the health care system itself.

Berry and colleagues at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Boston and Henry Ford Health Detroit published their findings in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

The Case Of The Norwegian Nurse

The team identified what it calls "values-driven listening." It's about more than asking questions, it's about asking the right questions, being present and showing genuine curiosity and compassion.

"Listening is the gateway to healing," Berry said. "It's how we connect, understand and ultimately serve better."

One story in the article shows just how transformative listening can be. A nurse in a Norwegian nursing home asked a patient, "What would make a good day for you?"

The patient responded: "I want to wear my blue shirt."

"Why the blue one?" the nurse asked.

"That was my wife's favorite shirt," the patient said. "She died two years ago today, and I want to honor her."

The patient shared memories of his wife with the nurse, and afterward, he asked for a wheelchair so that he could tell other patients about her; it was the first time he'd ever asked to interact with other people at the facility.

"That's not a medical breakthrough," Berry said, "it's a human one."

Six Listening Strategies

The authors outline six types of listening that contribute to better care:

Listening That Is Proximate Being physically present matters. Your provider can learn far more from a quiet moment in the exam room than from a rushed message or chart note. When they're close, focused and curious, you're more likely to open up, and that kind of trust is essential for making decisions together about your care. Be sure your provider spends this focused time with you.

Listening That Is Curious Your provider's curiosity can be just as important as their expertise. When they ask open-ended questions and pay attention to your words, body language and emotions, it creates space for honest conversation. That's often when key details emerge informing the plan of care. "What are your concerns about the plan of care we've discussed?" creates a path for open dialogue in a way that "Do you have any questions?" does not.

Listening That Earns And Enables Trust Trust starts when you feel safe to speak candidly, and that happens when your provider listens without judgment, gives you their full attention and treats your input as essential. At Henry Ford Health, some doctors are using AI-powered tools to handle notetaking during appointments, so they can focus entirely on the conversation.

Listening Aided By Design The design of a clinic or hospital can affect how well you're heard. Small, crowded spaces make private conversations harder, but simple changes -- like your provider sitting down during a visit -- can make you feel more cared for and listened to. Some health systems, like Southcentral Foundation in Alaska, have created "talking rooms" that feel less clinical and more personal, showing that listening isn't just a skill, it's something built into the space itself.

Listening That Empowers Listening should lead to action, and that includes listening to the people who care for you. When frontline staff are asked what's wasting time or making care harder, they often have smart, simple fixes. At Hawaii Pacific Health, a program called "Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff" led to hundreds of suggestions, including one that saved nurses 1,700 hours a month by removing a pointless documentation rule. When staff are empowered to speak up, care becomes more efficient, less frustrating and better for everyone.

Listening That Fosters Resilience Caring for others is demanding, and when health care workers are supported, they're better able to support you. Simple acts like sharing meals and stories with colleagues can help reduce burnout and build emotional strength in those who are caring for you. Some hospitals schedule time for these peer connections, creating space for reflection and support. Ask your provider how their health care system supports its workers.

Listening Is Kindness

Berry and his co-authors write that deep listening benefits all parties: clinician-to patient; clinician-to-clinician; leader-to-clinical and non-clinical staff. It's a cultural shift that starts with values. "Do you care enough to listen?" they ask.

For patients, this means you should feel empowered to speak up and expect to be heard.

"Your experiences, concerns and insights are not just helpful, they're essential," Berry said. "And when your care team listens with empathy and curiosity, it leads to better decisions, stronger relationships and more personalized care.

"Kindness is not a luxury in health care, it's a necessity. And true listening is one of its most powerful expressions."