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Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Cell Sorting of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells from the Adult Mouse Subventricular Zone and Live-imaging of their Cell Cycle Dynamics
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Neural cell state shifts and fate loss in ageing and age-related diseases

Larissa Traxler1, Raffaella Lucciola2, Joseph R Herdy2

  • 1Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.

Nature Reviews. Neurology
|June 2, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cellular aging can cause brain cells to lose their identity, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding these cell state shifts may help develop new treatments for brain repair and resilience.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Age-related neurodegenerative diseases are largely incurable due to poorly understood mechanisms.
  • Biological aging is the primary risk factor for neurodegeneration, involving cellular state shifts in response to damage.
  • While beneficial in younger brains, excessive cell state shifts in aged brains may lead to neuronal and glial fate loss.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To offer a new perspective on the role of cell states in brain health and disease.
  • To examine how cellular aging contributes to pathological cell fate loss and neurodegeneration.
  • To explore the potential for manipulating cell fate to enhance brain resilience and repair.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of current literature on cellular aging and neurodegeneration.
  • Analysis of cell state dynamics in response to stress and damage.
  • Conceptual framework development for understanding cell fate shifts in the aging brain.

Main Results:

  • Cellular aging can induce maladaptive cell state shifts in neurons and glia.
  • These shifts, if excessive or prolonged, can lead to terminal cell fate loss and neurodegeneration.
  • Understanding these processes provides insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular state and fate shifts are critical in determining brain health during aging.
  • Targeting these shifts offers a promising avenue for promoting brain resilience and combating neurodegeneration.
  • Further research into neuronal plasticity and cell fate control is essential for developing effective interventions.

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