Renewing Brain’s Aging Support Cells May Help Neurons Survive

In a recent study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, researchers from the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute looked into the involvement of astrocyte cells and their effect on neurons in relation to the progression of Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Earlier studies suggested the possible involvement of these support cells in ALS development and progression, but this study is the first to directly measure the effects of aging on the ability of astrocytes to sustain motor neurons. During the animal study, the researchers were surprised to find that very young ALS astrocytes were supportive, but ALS astrocytes from older animals were not. More surprisingly, it wasn’t just diseased astrocytes that were affected by age. Researchers discovered that even normal aging of astrocytes reduces their ability to support motor neurons. “Aging astrocytes lose their ability to support motor neurons in general, and they clearly fail to help those attacked by ALS,” said the study’s senior author. “Our findings have implications for scientists studying neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Alzheimer’s and the aging process in general.” To read more about this study, click here.