Unveiling the mechanisms of brain aging through cross-species comparison (BrainXS)

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are projected to affect 150 million people worldwide by 2050. Although age is a major risk factor for these diseases, the genetic and molecular mechanisms contributing to brain ageing remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap limits the development of preventive strategies targeting brain ageing and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Dennis de Bakker’s research aims to uncover the genetic and molecular drivers of brain ageing in vertebrates. By comparing the genomes of fish species with varying rates of brain ageing, he seeks to identify factors that either promote or protect against age-related neural decline. These insights could lay the foundation for strategies to delay brain ageing and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases in humans.