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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

Global aging and the brain.

Thomas B L Kirkwood¹

¹Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. tom.kirkwood@ncl.ac.uk

Nutrition Reviews

|November 25, 2010

Summary

Understanding brain aging is key to combating neurodegenerative diseases. This process, driven by cellular damage, is more adaptable than previously believed, offering new avenues for maintaining cognitive health throughout life.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Molecular Biology

Background:

Brain aging is intrinsically linked to age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Global aging results from the cumulative cellular and molecular damage over time.
Specific molecular lesions are associated with distinct diseases, yet pathways often overlap with general aging.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the relationship between intrinsic brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
To understand the role of cellular and molecular damage in global aging.
To investigate the malleability of the aging process for healthspan interventions.

Main Methods:

Literature review on aging mechanisms.
Analysis of molecular and cellular damage pathways.

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Synthesis of evidence on aging process plasticity.

Main Results:

Significant overlap exists between pathways driving specific diseases and general aging.
The global aging process demonstrates considerable malleability.
Interventions targeting aging pathways could improve cognitive health across the lifespan.

Conclusions:

Brain aging and neurodegeneration are interconnected aspects of global aging.
The aging process is not fixed and can be influenced.
Strategies to enhance health and cognitive capital should consider the plasticity of aging.