{"title":"Astrocytes in aging.","authors":"Lara Labarta-Bajo, Nicola J Allen","doi":"10.1016/j.neuron.2024.12.010","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The mammalian nervous system is impacted by aging. Aging alters brain architecture, is associated with molecular damage, and can manifest with cognitive and motor deficits that diminish the quality of life. Astrocytes are glial cells of the CNS that regulate the development, function, and repair of neural circuits during development and adulthood; however, their functions in aging are less understood. Astrocytes change their transcriptome during aging, with astrocytes in areas such as the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, and white matter-rich regions being the most affected. While numerous studies describe astrocyte transcriptional changes in aging, many questions still remain. For example, how is astrocyte function altered by transcriptional changes that occur during aging? What are the mechanisms promoting astrocyte aged states? How do aged astrocytes impact brain function? This review discusses features of aged astrocytes and their potential triggers and proposes ways in which they may impact brain function and health span.</p>","PeriodicalId":19313,"journal":{"name":"Neuron","volume":"113 1","pages":"109-126"},"PeriodicalIF":14.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11735045/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuron","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2024.12.010","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The mammalian nervous system is impacted by aging. Aging alters brain architecture, is associated with molecular damage, and can manifest with cognitive and motor deficits that diminish the quality of life. Astrocytes are glial cells of the CNS that regulate the development, function, and repair of neural circuits during development and adulthood; however, their functions in aging are less understood. Astrocytes change their transcriptome during aging, with astrocytes in areas such as the cerebellum, the hypothalamus, and white matter-rich regions being the most affected. While numerous studies describe astrocyte transcriptional changes in aging, many questions still remain. For example, how is astrocyte function altered by transcriptional changes that occur during aging? What are the mechanisms promoting astrocyte aged states? How do aged astrocytes impact brain function? This review discusses features of aged astrocytes and their potential triggers and proposes ways in which they may impact brain function and health span.
期刊介绍:
Established as a highly influential journal in neuroscience, Neuron is widely relied upon in the field. The editors adopt interdisciplinary strategies, integrating biophysical, cellular, developmental, and molecular approaches alongside a systems approach to sensory, motor, and higher-order cognitive functions. Serving as a premier intellectual forum, Neuron holds a prominent position in the entire neuroscience community.