Publications by authors named "Luka Culig"
Stem cells are a unique class of cells that possess the ability to differentiate and self-renew, enabling them to repair and replenish tissues. To protect and maintain the potential of stem cells, the cells and the environment surrounding these cells (stem cell niche) are highly responsive and tightly regulated. However, various stresses can affect the stem cells and their niches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of lifespan-extending interventions on cognitive healthspan.
Expert Rev Mol Med
November 2022
Article Synopsis
- Ageing is the leading risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which are currently incurable and worsen over time.
- This review examines various interventions that may help extend lifespan in animals and their potential effects on cognitive health and neurodegeneration.
- The authors emphasize the need for large-scale, long-term studies to better understand these interventions and their impact on cognitive function, especially in older adults.
Adult neurogenesis, the process by which neurons are generated in certain areas of the adult brain, declines in an age-dependent manner and is one potential target for extending cognitive healthspan. Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and, as lifespans are increasing, these health challenges are becoming more prevalent. An age-associated loss in neural stem cell number and/or activity could cause this decline in brain function, so interventions that reverse aging in stem cells might increase the human cognitive healthspan.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe term "memory strength" generally refers to how well one remembers something. But more precisely it contains multiple modalities, such as how easily, how accurately, how confidently and how vividly we remember it. In human, these modalities of memory strength are dissociable.
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- Major depression may be linked to disruptions in the HPA axis and problems with neurogenesis in the hippocampus, which is important for the effects of antidepressants.
- This study used a mouse model to explore whether increasing adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) after chronic stress could help alleviate behavioral deficits caused by stress.
- Results showed that enhancing AHN after 2 weeks of chronic stress improved certain behaviors and lowered stress hormone levels, suggesting a potential benefit of boosting neurogenesis in treating depression after stress exposure.
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) is a biologically active amine that regulates the development of 5HT neurons and target tissues during neurogenesis, while later it assumes the function of a neurotransmitter. Serotonin mediates many essential behaviors common to all mammals, and is held responsible for anxiety-like behavior and cognitive rigidity. Proper serotonin levels, controlled through 5HT synthesis and metabolism, are crucial for normal brain development.
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