Editorial: Neuroinflammation and Cognition

Neuroinflammation and CognitionAging is a complex process, and one of the major risk factors for onset and progression of various neurodegenerative diseases.Increased human longevity has magnified the negative impact that aging can have on cognitive performance.The number of individuals 65 years or older will increase exponentially over the next several decades, and age-related cognitive impairment is expected to have a detrimental impact on individuals, their families, and society.An early sign of age-related cognitive decline in humans and rodent models is impaired executive function and spatial memory performance.Synaptic plasticity in the mammalian central nervous system has been the subject of intense investigation, and is regarded as a principal candidate for cellular mechanisms involved in learning and memory.Senescent physiology including altered synaptic plasticity and cell excitability contributes to the decline in cognitive function associated with aging and age associated neurodegenerative diseases.Neuroinflammation is a common feature of virtually every central nervous system disease, and is being increasingly recognized as a potential mediator of cognitive impairments.Systemic inflammation levels are increased with advanced age and neurodegeneration.The impact of age on neuroinflammatory responses including glial activation, increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, and aberrant neuronal signaling could magnify the deterioration of the central nervous system microenvironment in disease, and may contribute to accelerated cognitive impairment.However, a clear mechanistic understanding of these interactions is lacking.Given the high complexity of aging process and various mechanisms contributing to age-associated cognitive impairment, it is an arduous task to pinpoint on any single factor.This research topic in the Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience has produced a highly informative collection of original research articles (13), reviews (two), and a general commentary that cover comprehensive aspect of neuroinflammation and possible therapeutic interventions in rescuing cognitive impairments.First, in their original research article, Ianov et al. provided detailed research findings related to gene expression profile in hippocampal sub regions and their association with aging and cognition.The authors employed two next-generation RNA sequencing platforms, Illumina, and Ion Proton, to examine gene expression differences related to brain aging and cognitive impairment in CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus.Their results demonstrate differences in gene expression in hippocampal sub regions and indicate regional differences in susceptibility to advanced age and cognitive performance.