Turning back time: Aging plasticity and its rejuvenation.

Abstract

As we age, our brain is influenced by experience and intrinsic biological changes. This combination of external and internal factors shapes the way in which our brain functions. Neuronal plasticity processes can store information about the sensory world and regulate neural-circuit activity levels to maintain stable neural-circuit function. These learning- and homeostasis-related plasticity processes exhibit age-related changes. Developing a better understanding of such age-related changes may open opportunities for rejuvenation strategies that promote plasticity and improve neurological health in later life. Here we review some of the latest work investigating age-related plasticity changes with a specific focus on sensory cortices. We propose that a better understanding of age-related tipping points in the context of plasticity could facilitate timed intervention strategies that may promote resilience during aging, by boosting the efficacy of endogenous plasticity mechanisms.