Tryptophan is widely known for its connection to sleep, but its importance goes much further. The compounds produced from tryptophan help build proteins, generate cellular energy (NAD+), and create essential brain chemicals such as serotonin and melatonin. Together, these processes support mood, learning, and healthy sleep patterns.
As the brain ages or develops neurological disease, this system begins to break down. Scientists have repeatedly observed disruptions in how tryptophan is processed in aging brains, with even stronger effects seen in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. These changes are linked to worsening mood, impaired learning, and disturbed sleep. Until now, however, researchers did not know what caused the brain to shift how it uses tryptophan in the first place.
SIRT6 Identified as a Key…