New Study Reveals How Clinical Factors Impact Neuronal Structure and Function in the Adult Human Brain
Researchers at Hannover Medical School have unveiled groundbreaking insights into how age and medical treatments affect the structure and function of superficial pyramidal neurons in the adult human neocortex. The study, led by Maximilian Lenz, Pia Kruse, Amelie Eichler, and colleagues, provides valuable understanding of brain plasticity and its implications for cognitive decline and neurological therapies.

Key Findings:
•    Age-Related Decline in Dendritic Spine Density: The team observed a significant reduction in dendritic spine density correlated with increasing age. This finding aligns with known patterns of age-related cognitive decline, suggesting that the number of synaptic connections decreases as we age.
•    Stable Synaptic Function Despite Structural Changes: Interestingly, most electrophysiological parameters, including excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC), remained unaffected by age. This indicates that the brain may activate compensatory mechanisms to maintain neural function despite a loss in structural connectivity.

Significance of the Study:
This research underscores the necessity of considering individual clinical factors—such as age and medication—when examining neuronal properties in the human brain. By illuminating how aging and medical treatments influence brain plasticity, the study paves the way for developing targeted interventions to mitigate cognitive decline and enhance therapeutic strategies for neurological conditions.

Future Directions:
The Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology established a collaboration with the Clinics for Neurosurgery, which aims to expand this research by involving larger patient cohorts. By looking at subcellular signaling processes and competition for synaptic resources in health and disease. such studies could deepen the understanding of the relationships between clinical parameters and neuronal properties, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes through novel approaches to maintain synaptic plasticity.

Reference:
Maximilian Lenz, Pia Kruse, Amelie Eichler, Jakob Straehle, Hanna Hemeling, Phyllis Stöhr, Jürgen Beck, Andreas Vlachos; Clinical parameters affect the structure and function of superficial pyramidal neurons in the adult human neocortex; Brain Communications, 2024, fcae351, doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae351