As the brain ages, hallmark changes occur at cellular and anatomical levels, including glial activation, synaptic degeneration, reduced neurogenesis, white matter deterioration, hippocampal shrinkage, and global cerebral atrophy. Simultaneously, aging disrupts neuronal connectivity, especially within the hippocampus and cortex, leading to impaired synaptic plasticity and memory formation.
Fig. 1 Illustration of four major patterns associated with older age. (McDonough IM, et al., 2022)
CD BioSciences provides an integrated suite of preclinical services for the characterization of brain aging, combining advanced imaging, immunophenotyping, and neurobehavioral assessments. Our services empower researchers to identify biological signatures of brain aging and evaluate therapeutic interventions targeting aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.
How Do We Characterize Age-Related Changes in Microglia and Astrocytes?
Characterization of age-related microglial activation
Our company provides immunostaining for Iba1, CD68, and TMEM119 to identify microglia in the aging brain. Using enzymatic digestion followed by magnetic sorting, we isolate microglia from aged brain tissue for comprehensive flow cytometric immunophenotyping with markers such as CD11b, CD45, CX3CR1, and MHC-II. We also help clients analyze expression of key aging-related genes (e.g., IL-1β, TNF-α, TREM2, C1q) to track pro-inflammatory signatures and age-related changes in microglia.
Characterization of astrocyte aging
We assist clients in quantitative analysis of astrogliosis using immunofluorescence staining of GFAP and S100β. Our experts help assess the expression of aging-related genes (e.g., p16INK4a, p21, SASP factors) via RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and in situ hybridization in astrocytes. To evaluate functional impact, we conduct co-staining for astrocytic and neuronal markers (e.g., NeuN, MAP2), offering insight into astrocyte-neuron interactions in the aging brain.
How Do We Characterize Aging-Related Brain Changes in Animal Models?
CD BioSciences offers rodent models of brain aging, including naturally aged cohorts (e.g., 18-24 months), accelerated aging models, and genetically engineered strains. Through quantitative imaging and molecular analysis, we provide characterization of cortical, hippocampal, and global brain aging phenotypes.
Characterization of aging cortical synapses
Cortical synapse loss and altered neurotransmission are early manifestations of cognitive aging. We can perform quantitative immunohistochemistry and Western blotting for pre- and post-synaptic markers to assess synaptic density and integrity in the aging cortex. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we reveal ultrastructural changes in synaptic clefts, vesicle populations, and active zones in aging cortical synapses.
Characterization of the aging hippocampus
The hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to aging, with marked declines in plasticity and neurogenesis. We evaluate adult hippocampal neurogenesis by tracking proliferating neural progenitors and immature neurons in the dentate gyrus (DG). We offer electrophysiological assessment of long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices to support clients in detecting aging-induced impairments in synaptic plasticity, a physiological correlate of learning and memory.
Characterization of age-related brain atrophy
Global cerebral atrophy is a hallmark of aging and strongly correlates with cognitive impairment. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological sections, we offer volumetric analysis of CA1, CA3, and DG regions to quantify age-related brain atrophy. We also perform immunohistochemistry and cresyl violet staining to quantify neuronal density and identify areas of age-related neuron loss across cortical and subcortical regions.
The aging brain undergoes intricate and progressive changes across cellular, molecular, and structural dimensions. CD BioScience offers a comprehensive, scientifically validated platform to characterize age-related brain changes using advanced imaging, molecular analysis, and in vivo functional assessments. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us or make an online inquiry.
References
- McDonough IM, et al. 25 years of neurocognitive aging theories: What have we learned? Front Aging Neurosci, 2022, 14: 1002096.
- Pan J, et al. Age-associated changes in microglia and astrocytes ameliorate blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2021 Sep 7;26:970-986.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
