Role of an exercise liver-to-brain rejuvenation axis in restoring regenerative and cognitive function in aging
The aging process leads to functional alterations in the brain, causing cognitive impairments and reduction of current standards of living. As people live longer, an increasing number of individuals experience age-related cognitive decline, underscoring the importance of identifying strategies to counteract the impact of aging. As such, widespread interest in novel therapeutics capable of decreasing vulnerability to, or even reversing, age-related brain dysfunction has been generated. My research will investigate the role of the transcription factor HNF4-a (a major regulator of liver homeostasis) as a master regulator underlying the effects of a liver-to-brain rejuvenation axis that confers the benefits of exercise to the aged brain. These studies will have significant translational potential, identifying HNF4-a as a novel therapeutic target whose activation can reverse age-related regenerative and cognitive impairments in brain at old age.
