Aging and Aging-Related Diseases

Aging gradually changes how neurons function and increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. What makes aging synapses vulnerable to dysfunction and degeneration? We seek to answer this question by investigating how the cellular environment shapes the molecular organisation and function of the synapse. We are particularly interested in neuronal membranes and protein–lipid interactions. Proteins do not act in isolation: their behaviour depends not only on their sequences, but also on the lipids and molecular partners around them. By combining cryo-electron microscopy and tomography with mass spectrometry-based multi-omics and experimental models, we aim to uncover the molecular features that distinguish healthy synapses from vulnerable ones during aging and disease.