Reprogramming Glia into Neurons Becomes Less Effective with Advancing Age

The useful part

The research community is in the early stages of development of therapies for age-related neurodegeneration based on reprogramming the supporting glial cells of the brain to provoke transformation into neurons. As noted here, however, much of this research and development has been conducted in young mice. In old mice, a combination of chronic inflammation and changes in glial cells acts to reduce the efficiency of reprogramming.

How it works

• Reprogramming resident glia into neurons holds great therapeutic promise for neurodegenerative diseases across the central nervous system, yet these strategies have been developed largely in young animals.