Research summary
As we age, our central nervous systems progressively lose myelin, the insulating layer that forms around nerves. Myelin-producing cells, or oligodendrocytes, need to be replaced regularly by precursor cells—but this process often fails in older adults, increasing their susceptibility to neurodegeneration. As Canada Research Chair in Myelin Repair and Matrix Biology of Aging, Dr. Samira Ghorbanigazar is working to understand why this happens.
She and her research team are investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie aging-related myelin deficits. They are also assessing the role of aging oligodendrocyte precursor cells and an aging extracellular matrix (the complex network of molecules secreted by cells, providing structural support and regulating various cellular processes) in neurodegeneration. Ghorbanigazar’s research could expand our knowledge about aging mechanisms in the central nervous system. It could also lead to strategies to enhance myelin repair, which could slow aging-related neurodegeneration and the progression of multiple sclerosis.