Because neurons in the brain are electrically excitable and active 24/7 the brain consumes relatively large amounts of energy and must adapt to varying demands on its neural networks. The cellular and molecular complexity of the brain presents a major challenge for understanding not only its second-by-second function but also how neural networks are affected by aging and disease. In this episode Dr. Polina Schichkova talks about how large datasets on cellular energy metabolism gene expression are being used to elucidate how aging affects the brain as a whole. Her findings from analyses of data from brains of young adults and elder humans show that aging results in reduced flexibility of the brain’s bioenergetics and electrical activity. Computer modeling reveals how the brain is altered during aging as well as potential interventions to counteract age-related processes.

LINKS

Breakdown and repair of metabolism in the aging brain:

file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/fsci-3-1441297%20(2).pdf

Multiscale electro-metabolic model of the brain:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12112163/pdf/pcbi.1013070.pdf

Online modeling:

https://www.openbraininstitute.org/jupyterhub_metabolism/user/[email protected]/lab/tree/obi_platform_analysis_notebooks/Metabolism/analysis_notebook.ipynb