Lactoferrin improves cognitive function and attenuates brain senescence in aged mice

•Lactoferrin improves memory and learning ability of naturally aged C57/BL6J mice.•Lactoferrin alleviates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in aged mice.•Lactoferrin decreases iron deposits in the brains of aged mice.•Metabolism alterations in the hippocampi of aged mice were partially reversed by lactoferrin intervention.