You know that frustrating feeling when you search for a word and can't find it? Or when you forget where you put your keys for the third time this week? Our brains age, that's undeniable. But what if I told you that there's a natural molecule that can reverse this process? It's called Hevin, and the astrocytes that produce it are becoming the new protagonists in the fight against Alzheimer's. Yes, everyone was looking at neurons, but the real solution could be hidden in the supporting cells. A discovery that changes everything.
The Secret Hidden in the Brain's Astrocytes
For decades we have considered astrocytes as simple support cells, a sort of “cleaning staff” for neurons. Flavia Alcantara Gomes, head of the Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology at the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the UFRJ, has shown how far we were from reality. Astrocytes produce hevin, a glycoprotein that acts as a molecular architect of neural connections.
La research published on aging cell reveals that when we increase hevin production in hippocampal astrocytes, something extraordinary happens. Synapses, those delicate connections between neurons that determine our ability to think and remember, are literally reborn. This isn’t about slowing down deterioration; it’s about a complete reversal of the brain’s aging process.

Hevin works better than Alzheimer's drugs
The most fascinating part of this discovery concerns amyloid plaques, those protein structures that for years we have considered the number one enemy of Alzheimer's. Felipe Cabral Miranda, first author of the study, observed something incredible: hevin reverses cognitive decline without touching these plaques at all.
Although cognitive deficit was reversed in the Alzheimer's model animals, there was no change in plaque content.
This completely turns our understanding of the disease on its head. Perhaps amyloid plaques are not the cause of Alzheimer's, but just one of the symptoms. The real battle is fought at the level of the synapses, and hevin seems to be the winning weapon.
How Hevin Reprograms Brain Neuroplasticity
Proteomic analysis conducted in the laboratories of the University of São Paulo revealed the mechanism of action of hevin. Danilo Bilches Medinas, professor of the Department of Biochemistry, explains that The molecule regulates 89 different proteins involved in synaptic function.
Hevin doesn't work alone: she orchestrates an entire symphony of proteins that strengthen the connections between neurons. It's like having a conductor who coordinates each musician to produce a perfect melody. The result? A significant increase in synapses and, consequently, better cognitive performance.
Tests on mice reveal surprising results
The researchers used adeno-associated viral vectors to increase hevin expression in astrocytes of middle-aged mice, both healthy and with models of Alzheimer's disease. After six months of treatment, The animals showed cognitive abilities comparable to those of young mice..
Confocal microscopy showed an increase in the colocalization of pre- and post-synaptic markers, confirming that hevin promotes the formation of new functional neural connections. We are not talking about a marginal improvement, but a real brain rejuvenation.
From plaques to synapses: a new era in research
As we have highlighted in this article, Alzheimer's research is undergoing a profound renewal. Hevin represents a paradigm shift: instead of focusing exclusively on neurons and amyloid plaques, we must look at astrocytes and synapses.
Cabral-Miranda is optimistic: in the coming years it will be possible to develop drugs that mimic the effects of hevin. The main challenge remains overcoming the blood-brain barrier, but the path is clear. The future of anti-brain aging medicine could be hidden in this molecule naturally produced by our brain.