Dietary impact on neuronal autophagy control and brain health
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IntechOpen
Abstract
Autophagy is the major intracellular system which is critical for the removal of
harmful protein aggregates and malfunctioning organelles. Dysfunctional autophagy
is associated with a multitude of human diseases, such as protein aggregation
in Alzheimer’s disease and non-successful aging. Major interest exists in the dietary
manipulation of the autophagy pathway activity, so as to tune the cell’s protein
degradation capabilities and to prevent cell death onset. It has recently become clear
that the machinery required to degrade protein cargo has a distinct activity level
which can be altered through specific dietary modulation. Moreover, this activity
may differ from that of the proteinaceous cargo. Overall, brain health and successful
aging are characterized by limited protein aggregation, with a distinct molecular
signature of maintained autophagy function. However, it is largely unclear how to
control autophagy through dietary interventions with a precision that would allow
to maintain minimal levels of toxic proteins, preserving neuronal cell viability and
proteostasis. In this chapter, we carefully dissect the relationship between autophagy-
modulating drugs, including caloric restriction mimetics and their impact on
neuronal autophagy, in the context of preserving brain health.
Description
CITATION: Ntsapi, C., Du Toit, A. & Loos, B. 2019. Dietary impact on neuronal autophagy control and brain health. In: Bosch-Bouju, C., Laye, S. & Pallet, V. (eds.) Feed your mind - how does nutrition modulate brain function throughout life?. IntechOpen, doi:10.5772/intechopen.85228.
The original publication is available at https://www.intechopen.com
Publication of this chapter was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at https://www.intechopen.com
Publication of this chapter was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
Autophagic flux, Neurodegeneration, Neuronal autophagy, Nervous system -- Degeneration -- Diet therapy, Nervous system -- Degeneration -- Alternative treatment
Citation
Ntsapi, C., Du Toit, A. & Loos, B. 2019. Dietary impact on neuronal autophagy control and brain health. In: Bosch-Bouju, C., Laye, S. & Pallet, V. (eds.) Feed your mind - how does nutrition modulate brain function throughout life?. IntechOpen, doi:10.5772/intechopen.85228