Measuring Myelin Loss in the Aging Brain

Myelin acts as an insulating sheath for the axonal connections that exist between neurons, and is necessary for the correct function of these connections. Demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis are particularly debilitating due to the spreading and progressively worsening failure of the nervous system caused by loss of myelin. Unfortunately myelin is also lost to a lesser degree with advancing age, one of many consequences of accumulated molecular damage and maladaptive reactions to that damage. Here, researchers report on efforts to better measure the loss of myelin that occurs with age, comparing established with novel approaches to the challenge of measuring specific structural aspects of the living brain via imaging technologies. The study of myelination in the brain is essential due to its profound impact on neural function. Myelin acts as an insulator, significantly increasing the speed and efficiency of electrical signal transmission within the nervous system, facilitating information processing and precise neuron communication. Myelination is crucial during early development and continues to influence learning, memory, and cognitive function throughout life. Recent studies showed that the myelin of the brain changes in the life span, and demyelination contributes to the loss of brain plasticity during normal aging. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) allows studying brain connectivity in vivo by mapping axons in white matter...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs