title: The glia doctrine: addressing the role of glial cells in healthy brain ageing.
abstract: Glial cells in their plurality pervade the human brain and impact on brain structure and function. A principal component of the emerging glial doctrine is the hypothesis that astrocytes, the most abundant type of glial cells, trigger major molecular processes leading to brain ageing. Astrocyte biology has been examined using molecular, biochemical and structural methods, as well as 3D brain imaging in live animals and humans. Exosomes are extracelluar membrane vesicles that facilitate communication between glia, and have significant potential for biomarker discovery and drug delivery. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may indirectly influence the structure and function of membrane proteins expressed in glial cells and predispose specific cell subgroups to degeneration. Physical exercise may reduce or retard age-related brain deterioration by a mechanism involving neuro-glial processes. It is most likely that additional information about the distribution, structure and function of glial cells will yield novel insight into human brain ageing. Systematic studies of glia and their functions are expected to eventually lead to earlier detection of ageing-related brain dysfunction and to interventions that could delay, reduce or prevent brain dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), The Nordic EMBL Partnership, University of Oslo, Norway; Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: Erlend A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nagelhus
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiry-Moghaddam
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Bergersen
authors.forename: Jan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bjaalie
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Vidar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.forename: Trygve B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Leergaard
authors.forename: J Preben
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morth
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Storm-Mathisen
authors.forename: Reidun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torp
authors.forename: Kristine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Walhovd
authors.forename: Tone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tønjum
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002450:Cell Communication; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans
keywords: Ageing; Alzheimer's disease; Astrocytes; Brain imaging; Exosomes; Glial cells