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Interactions with and Membrane Permeabilization of Brain Mitochondria by Amyloid Fibrils
Published on: September 28, 2019
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Mitochondria, Estrogen and Female Brain Aging.
Imane Lejri1,2, Amandine Grimm1,2, Anne Eckert1,2
1Neurobiology Lab for Brain Aging and Mental Health, Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|May 15, 2018
Summary
Estrogen influences mitochondrial function, crucial for brain health and aging. Understanding this link may reveal mechanisms behind age-related neurodegeneration in women.
Area of Science:
- Neurobiology
- Endocrinology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Mitochondria are vital for cellular energy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging.
- Estrogen is crucial for women's health, impacting the brain via neuroprotective and antioxidant pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review mitochondrial dysfunction in the aging brain.
- To discuss estrogen's effects on mitochondrial activity.
- To explore estrogen-brain-derived neurotrophic factor and estrogen-sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) pathways in female aging.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of mitochondrial dysfunction and aging.
- Analysis of estrogen's role in mitochondrial activity.
- Examination of neurotrophic and antioxidant pathways.
Main Results:
- Mitochondrial impairment is central to brain aging.
- Estrogen modulates mitochondrial function through pathways like BDNF and SIRT3.
- Hypoestrogenic states may increase vulnerability to neurodegeneration in aging women.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen plays a significant role in maintaining mitochondrial health in the aging brain.
- Understanding the estrogen-mitochondria interplay is key to addressing female-specific age-related brain pathologies.
- Further research into these pathways can inform interventions for healthy female aging.
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