Enhancing remyelination as a strategy for healthy longevity and preventing Alzheimer’s disease
Description: There are three sources of remyelinating cells in the adult brain- neural stem cells (NSCs), oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes (OLs). Unlike OLs, the number of OPCs does not decline with age; however their ability to differentiate into oligodendrocytes is inhibited. Remarkably, the NSCs retain their potential for proliferation and differentiation in the aged brain although their numbers decline with age. Does prevention of NSC and oligodendroglial cell death promote survival and/or delay AD symptoms? Does the aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brain have a reduced capacity to generate OLs? Does enhancing remyelination increase lifespan and protect neurons in the AD brain? To answer these questions we will test the hypothesis that prevention of myelin loss and enhancing remyelination promotes healthy longevity and delays/prevents the onset of AD.
Amount: ¥3,000,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: 医療分野国際科学技術共同研究開発推進事業
Start date: 2021-11-01
End date: 2022-03-31
Investigator: 林洋平
Institution: 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所
Funded outputs count: 1
Funder award ID: 21jm0610043h0001
OpenAlex ID: G3226084263