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How the cGAS–STING system links inflammation and cognitive decline

When DNA is misplaced inside cells, the cGAS–STING molecular system triggers inflammation. It emerges that stimulation of this mechanism in microglial cells of the brain during ageing contributes to cognitive decline.
  1. Bart J. L. Eggen

    1. Bart J. L. Eggen is in the Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, the Netherlands.

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First mentioned in the fifth century bc by the father of history, Herodotus, the water of the mythical fountain of youth is said to restore youthfulness and confer immortality. Clearly, people have long been fascinated by the idea of delaying — or, even better, reversing — ageing. It is safe to say, however, that progress towards this goal has been slow. In the meantime, societies are ageing rapidly: by 2030, one in 6 people will be over 60, and between 2020 and 2050, the number of people over 80 is expected to triple (see go.nature.com/448ifde). Nevertheless, our understanding of the myriad biological mechanisms that underpin ageing is developing, and, writing in Nature, Gulen and colleagues1 pinpoint one molecular pathway that contributes to ageing-related inflammation and neurodegeneration. Notably, inhibiting this pathway in aged mice prevents ageing-associated inflammation, and improves cognitive and motor performance.

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Nature 620, 280-282 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02240-1

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Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

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