The Aging Brain - What is causing the decline in bodily functions?

               This article is discussing how a recent study found evidence that astrocytes, a glial cell that helps in the formation and development of synapses, can contribute to the aging brain. This article also discusses how this new information can help give new insight into why some people are predisposed to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and potentially lead us to treatments.

               Regardless of how healthy an individual is through exercise, diet, or social interaction an individual may be, their brain activity will still decline. This is due to the fact that neurons do not work as well as they did when the individual was younger due to the decrease in synaptic connections between these neurons. Glial cells, the support cells of the brain, have been studied for their protective and supportive rolls in the brain. However, the astrocyte, a specific type of glia cell, will produce and send proteins to the neuron in order to help with the synaptic connection. Astrocytes are needed in order for neurons to communicate to each other.

               The study done by Boisvert et al (2018), looked at the different genes of the astrocyte to see if there were any differences, and they found that astrocytes do change over time leading them to be involved in synaptic decay. As the brain ages the astrocytes will promote the decay of synapses instead of supporting the connections. They also found that the astrocyte genes change most prominently in the areas of the brain that control metabolism and coordination such as the hypothalamus, and cerebellum. The astrocytes also produce less cholesterol because their genes associated with cholesterol production decrease. Cholesterol is extremely important in the brain because all cells need it in order to build structures, and carry out function. This is significant because the cholesterol from the rest of the body cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier leaving the brain deficient. The article ends by stating that this knowledge could lead to a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s and other diseases of that nature, because now they have a possible target for treatment.

Reaction: This article can be related to our class because we are currently talking about the brain in terms of neurons, and their support cells. As learned in class the glial cells act as the “glue” of the cell. Glial cells provide structural, and metabolic support for the neuron as well as helping with neural transmission by producing myelin. This article was interesting to read because it also shows how the support cells of the brain, can also lead to the decline of the brain’s function. While these astrocytes are extremely important to our brain functioning as we are younger, they also significantly impact our brain’s decline as we get older. This article gives wonderful insight on how our brains support cells can eventually turn into the reason as to why our bodily functions slow.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brain-chemistry/201802/the-aging-brain-when-friends-turn-foes