Glutamatergic regulation prevents hippocampal-dependent age-related cognitive decline through dendritic spine clustering

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Abstract
Significance: Aging is often accompanied by cognitive decline. It is of critical importance to understand the synaptic susceptibilities of the glutamatergic neural circuits to age-related cognitive decline and to intervene in this process. Maintenance of synaptic health in the face of aging is a crucially important therapeutic goal. We show that the glutamate modulator, riluzole, prevents age-related memory loss and induces clustering of dendritic spines. Clustering is a critical element of synaptic plasticity that has been previously demonstrated to increase synaptic strength. This study further elucidates neuroplastic changes in the neurocircuits vulnerable to aging and advances therapeutic development to prevent and treat age-related cognitive decline.
Funding Information
  • Dana Foundation (no number)
  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) (no number)
  • HHS | NIH | National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (8 UL1 TR000043)
  • HHS | NIH | National Institute on Aging (U.S. National Institute on Aging) (R37 AG06647)
  • Alzheimer Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) (20120703)

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