Scientists from the Salk Institute have found that dysplasia of microscopic brain structures can cause memory disorders in the elderly, but they do not develop with healthy aging. The corresponding study is published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
The work of scientists says that the brain is divided into regions, each of which contains many millions of neurons connected by thousands of synapses. These synapses, which provide communication between neurons, depend on even smaller structures: presynaptic buds, dendrites, and so on.
In a healthy brain, all these parts should fit together in size.
Scientists in a new study using electron microscopy found that if the correlation between the size of the buds and the mitochondria contained in them is disturbed, memory disorders can develop. With healthy aging, this size mismatch does not develop and the person is more likely to avoid cognitive impairment.
“It’s a ripple effect where unfathomably small synaptic structures change networks of neurons, brain function and behavior. The study of these microscopic dysfunctions is uncharted territory that could revolutionize our understanding of aging and its impact on cognition,” the scientists write.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
