Astrocytes and Aging

Abstract

By 2050, the aging population is predicted to expand by over 100%. Considering this rapid growth, and the additional strain it will place on healthcare resources because of age-related impairments, it is vital that researchers gain a deeper understanding of the cellular interactions that occur with normal aging. A variety of mammalian cell types have been shown to become compromised with age, each with a unique potential to contribute to disease formation in the aging body. Astrocytes represent the largest group of glial cells and are responsible for a variety of essential functions in the healthy central nervous system (CNS). Like other cell types, aging can cause a loss of normal function in astrocytes which reduces their ability to properly maintain a healthy CNS environment, negatively alters their interactions with neighboring cells, and contribute to the heightened inflammatory state characteristic of aging. The goal of this review article is to consolidate the knowledge and research to date regarding the role of astrocytes in aging. In specific, this review article will focus on the morphology and molecular profile of aged astrocytes, the consequence of astrocyte dysfunction on homeostatic functions during aging, and the role of astrocytes in age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Deletion of astrocytic BMAL1 results in metabolic imbalance and shorter lifespan in mice

“…As we found reduced astrocyte numbers and increased the reactivity of astrocytes in the ARC after 2 months of TM treatment, we evaluated whether Bmal1 deletion was maintained at later time, specifically at 15 months post tamoxifen treatment. We found that the percent of GFAP positive cells was increased in the ARC nucleus of both control and Bmal1cKO mice with age (Figure S3b) as previously reported (reviewed in Palmer & Ousman, ). However, at this stage, Bmal1cKOs showed a significant increase in the percent of GFAP positive cells compared to control animals (Figure S3a,b).…”

Neuroprotective Role of Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Presence of Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons Degeneration in Aged Mice

“…Since as known astrocytes undergo multiple molecular and morphological changes, astrogliosis can exert both beneficial and detrimental effects in a context-dependent manner determined by specific molecular signaling cascades, representing a ubiquitous hallmark of central nervous system pathology [116]. Moreover, aging can cause a loss of normal function in astrocytes which contributes to a heightened inflammatory state [117]. AD brains are also characterized by prominent reactive astrogliosis due to destruction of nearby neurons [118].…”

Mosaic Heterochrony in Neural Progenitors Sustains Accelerated Brain Growth and Neurogenesis in the Juvenile Killifish N. furzeri

“…In addition, the sparse distribution of RGs at the pallial surface implies a reduced astroglia to neurons ratio. Considering the prominent role of astroglial cells in neuronal function, this change could deeply affect brain physiology [35] but also contribute to brain aging phenotypes [36].…”