Recent Reviews Covering the Role of Glial Cells in Aging

Glial cells perform many vital tasks in the brain and other nervous system tissues, and age-related changes in their behavior are a part of the progression of neurodegenerative conditions. In the last couple of months a fair number of very readable review papers on this topic have been published. If you are interested in learning more about this aspect of the brain, now is your chance; take a look at the reviews referenced below. There are many varied types of glia, each with a different role. Some provide structure and nutrients so as to support neurons, others appear essential to activities such as the formation of synaptic connections, or undertake immune system functions such as the destruction of invading pathogens. Much of the focus in the study of glia falls upon microglia, which carry out immune functions, and astrocytes, which have a very broad portfolio of responsibilities and contributions: near every aspect of the brain's operation is influenced by or dependent upon their activities. In the study of the aging brain, rising levels of chronic inflammation and dysfunction of specific mechanisms are both topics of interest. Microglia mediate inflammation, while many neural mechanisms disrupted in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders involve astrocytes in one way or another. Neuroinflammation: good, bad, or indifferent? Under non-diseased conditions, central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis is maintained by an intricate crosstalk between glia and neurons. ...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs