Age-related impairment of axonal transport may promote neurodegenerative pathology

Nobuyuki Kimura

Laboratory of Disease Control, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation

Axonal transport is the bi-directional transport system in brain, and mainly carried out by motor proteins' activity. Impaired axonal transport is one of the characteristic features in neurodegenerative disorders, and several recent studies indicate that motor proteins are associated with various neurodegenerative disorder-related factors. Aging also attenuates axonal transport, and it may promote neurodegenerative pathology. Although additional investigations are needed to clarify why axonal transport becomes attenuated with aging, it will contribute to discover more clues about pathologic mechanisms underlying age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Address correspondence to Dr. Nobuyuki Kimura, Laboratory of Disease Control, Tsukuba Primate Research Center, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation (Hachimandai 1-1, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-0843, Japan)