Cognitive synaptopathy: synaptic and dendritic spine dysfunction in age-related cognitive disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Pathology

Background:

• Cognitive impairment significantly impacts individuals and society, stemming from diverse factors like genetics, neurotransmitter dysfunction, and environmental influences.
• Both healthy aging and neurodegenerative diseases involve cognitive alterations, ranging from mild subjective deficits to severe dementia.
• Current understanding of the neuropathological mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction remains incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on synaptic modifications related to cognitive function in aging and disease.
• To provide insights into differential diagnostics for synapse alterations across the spectrum of cognitive decline.
• To introduce the term "cognitive synaptopathy" for synaptic pathologies affecting higher brain functions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of synaptic modifications in cognitive function.
• Analysis of differential diagnostic elements in synapse alterations.
• Synthesis of knowledge on physiological senescence and dementia-related synaptic changes.

Main Results:

• Synaptic modifications are central to both normal cognitive aging and pathological cognitive impairment.
• A spectrum of synapse alterations exists, correlating with the severity of cognitive deficits.
• The proposed term "cognitive synaptopathy" unifies diverse synaptic pathologies.

Conclusions:

• Synaptic health is critical for cognitive function throughout the lifespan.
• Recognizing "cognitive synaptopathy" can aid in understanding and diagnosing cognitive disorders.
• Further research into synaptic mechanisms is crucial for addressing cognitive impairment.