How Brain Cells are Starved of Energy and Turn to Autophagy
Our brains are miraculous machines, capable of extraordinary feats of intelligence, creativity, and learning. But, like all machines, they need fuel to run. Scientists have discovered a process through which brain cells can be “starved” of energy, and then “rescued” by an increased level of autophagy. Autophagy is the process in which cells break down and recycle their own components to produce energy and stay healthy.
This discovery could be a major breakthrough in understanding how the brain works and potentially lead to new treatments for neurological disorders. The study, done in mouse models, found that when brain cells were deprived of energy, they activated autophagy to survive. The researchers then tested whether they could increase the level of autophagy in the brain, and found that this increased survival in the cells. This could have implications for the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
source: Phys.org