Title:Aging of Brain Related with Mitochondrial Dysfunctions
Volume: 22
Issue: 14
关键词:
线粒体、衰老、膜通透性、突触可塑性、神经精神症状、代谢发病率、生物标志物。
摘要: Advancing age presents a major challenge for the elderly population in terms of quality
of life. The risk of cognitive impairment, motor in-coordination, and behavioral inconsistency due
to neuronal damage is relatively higher in aging individuals of society. The brain, through its structural
and functional integrity, regulates vital physiological events; however, the susceptibility of
the brain to aging-related disturbances signals the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. Mitochondrial
dysfunctions impair bioenergetic mechanism, synaptic plasticity, and calcium homeostasis in
the brain, thus sufficiently implying mitochondria as a prime causal factor in accelerating aging-related
neurodegeneration. We have reviewed the fundamental functions of mitochondria in a
healthy brain and aimed to address the key issues in aging-related diseases by asking: 1) What goes
wrong with mitochondria in the aging brain? 2) What are the implications of mitochondrial damage
on motor functions and psychiatric symptoms? 3) How environmental chemicals and metabolic
morbidities affect mitochondrial functions? Further, we share insights on opportunities and pitfalls
in drug discovery approaches targeting mitochondria to slow down the progression of aging and related
neurodegenerative diseases.