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research article

Breakdown and repair of metabolism in the aging brain

Shichkova, Polina  
•
Coggan, Jay S.  
•
Kanari, Lida  
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March 25, 2025
Frontiers in Science

Age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia, are a major global health concern. This article describes the first comprehensive, data-driven molecular model of the neuro-glia-vascular system to explore the complex relationships between the aging brain, energy metabolism, blood flow, and neuronal activity. Comprising 16,800 interaction pathways, the model includes all key enzymes, transporters, metabolites, and circulatory factors vital for neuronal electrical activity. We found significant alterations in metabolite concentrations and differential effects on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) supply in neurons and astrocytes and within subcellular compartments in aged brains and identified reduced sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na + /K + -ATPase) activity as the leading cause of impaired neuronal action potentials. The model predicts that the metabolic pathways cluster more closely in the aged brain, suggesting a loss of robustness and adaptability. Additionally, the aged metabolic system displays reduced flexibility, undermining its capacity to efficiently respond to stimuli and recover from damage. Through transcription factor analysis, the estrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRA) emerged as a central target connected to these aging-related changes. An unguided optimization search pinpointed potential interventions capable of restoring the brain’s metabolic flexibility and action potential generation. These strategies include increasing the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) cytosol-mitochondria shuttle, NAD + pool, the ketone β-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, and Na + /K + -ATPase, while reducing blood glucose levels. The model is open sourced to help guide further research into brain metabolism.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.3389/fsci.2025.1441297
Author(s)
Shichkova, Polina  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Coggan, Jay S.  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Kanari, Lida  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Boci, Elvis  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Favreau, Cyrille  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Antonel, Stefano  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Keller, Daniel  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Markram, Henry  

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Date Issued

2025-03-25

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA

Published in
Frontiers in Science
Volume

3

Article Number

1441297

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
EDNE-ENS  
SPC-MG  
LNMC  
Available on Infoscience
February 10, 2026
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/259349
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