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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
07:44
Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
Published on: October 6, 2017
Ageing, neuronal connectivity and brain disorders: an unsolved ripple effect.
Daniele Bano1, Massimiliano Agostini, Gerry Melino
1Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175, Bonn, Germany. daniele.bano@dzne.de
Molecular Neurobiology
|January 15, 2011
Summary
Ageing causes cognitive decline by impacting brain synaptic connectivity. Interventions targeting ageing pathways may prevent age-related cognitive dysfunction and brain disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a major health challenge linked to ageing and age-related disorders.
- Molecular mechanisms of age-related neuronal changes in the central nervous system are not fully understood.
- Functional neuroimaging (fMRI, PET) shows decline in working memory and prefrontal cortex function with age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline.
- To explore the role of synaptic connectivity loss in neurodegeneration.
- To investigate ageing as a controllable biological process for preventing cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- Review of functional MRI and PET studies on ageing and cognition.
- Analysis of molecular and cellular changes in neurons during ageing.
- Examination of genetic factors influencing longevity and synaptic integrity.
Main Results:
- Ageing leads to synaptic connectivity loss, characterized by reduced spine numbers and synaptic dysfunction.
- These neuronal changes precede cognitive decline and contribute to age-related brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
- Ageing is a biologically regulated process involving conserved signaling pathways, not just slow deterioration.
Conclusions:
- Ageing-induced synaptic remodelling is a common feature across various age-related diseases.
- Genetic interventions promoting longevity delay synaptic loss and mitigate age-related cognitive decline.
- Targeting ageing processes offers a potential strategy to prevent cognitive decline associated with synaptic dysfunction.
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