VolkswagenStiftung

Cellular mechanisms of healthy brain ageing under caloric restriction

01.04.2016 bis 31.03.2019

Using biochemical, electrophysiological and in vivo/in situ imaging approaches the following specific aims will be addressed: 1) Characterization of the biochemical (energetic balance, efficiency of glycolysis and mitochondrial function, oxidative stress intensity) and physiological (at the single cell and network level) status of the ageing brain. 2) Comparison of the extent of ageing-induced deregulation of brain function in control and CR animals. 3) Deciphering cellular/molecular mechanisms underlying beneficial effects of CR, identification of pathways that can be targeted by CR-mimetics for future therapies. This project is expected to produce fundamental knowledge on the effects of ageing of neurons, astrocytes and microglia both in vitro and in vivo and on the mechanisms underlying caloric restriction -based improvement of their function. Based on the data obtained one shall be able to identify critical cellular/molecular pathways that can be targeted by CR-mimetics for future therapies.