Altered synaptic dynamics during normal brain aging.
Open accessAbstract
What is the neuroanatomical basis for the decline in brain function that occurs during normal aging? Previous postmortem studies have blamed it on a reduction in spine density, though results remain controversial and spine dynamics were not assessed. We used chronic in vivo two-photon imaging of dendritic spines and axonal boutons in somatosensory cortex for up to 1 year in thy1 GFP mice to test the hypothesis that aging is associated with alterations in synaptic dynamics. We find that the density of spines and en passant boutons (EPBs) in pyramidal cells increases throughout adult life but is stable between mature (8-15 months) and old (>20 months) mice. However, new spines and EPBs are two to three times more likely to be stabilized over 30 d in old mice, although the long-term retention (over months) of stable spines is lower in old animals. In old mice, spines are smaller on average but are still able to make synaptic connections regardless of their size, as assessed by serial section electron microscopy reconstructions of previously imaged dendrites. Thus, our data suggest that age-related deficits in sensory perception are not associated with synapse loss in somatosensory cortex (as might be expected) but with alterations in the size and stability of spines and boutons observed in this brain area. The changes we describe here likely result in weaker synapses that are less capable of short-term plasticity in aged individuals, and therefore to less efficient circuits.
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In adult animals, spine formation and elimination reach equilibrium.
“Finally, in adult animals spine formation and elimination reach equilibrium; spine density remains roughly constant until the onset of aging (Zuo et al., 2005a; Mostany et al., 2013).”
From Spatiotemporal dynamics of dendritic spines in the living brain (2014) · cites this paper as Mostany et al., 2013
Spine density remains roughly constant until the onset of aging in adult animals.
“Finally, in adult animals spine formation and elimination reach equilibrium; spine density remains roughly constant until the onset of aging (Zuo et al., 2005a; Mostany et al., 2013).”
From Spatiotemporal dynamics of dendritic spines in the living brain (2014) · cites this paper as Mostany et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Mostany, R., Anstey, J. E., Crump, K. L., Maco, B., Knott, G., & Portera-Cailliau, C.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- Venue
- The Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Published
- 2013-02-27
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 4094-4104
- ISSN
- 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-2401
- PMC
- PMC6619332
- OpenAlex
- W2055804501
- Cited by
- 179
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 9
- FWCI
- 7.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Parkinson Alliance
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Keywords
- brain aging, dendritic spines, synaptic dynamics, axonal boutons, spinal stability, somatosensory cortex, pyramidal neurons, synaptic loss, short-term plasticity
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Aging, Animals, Female, Male, Mice, Transgenic, Microscopy, Electron, Neurons, Probability, Somatosensory Cortex, Synapses, Microscopy, Confocal, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Dendritic Spines, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Mice
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