Astrocyte Metabolism and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Dementia: The Metabolic Breakdown

BackgroundAstrocyte and mitochondrial biology form a rapidly evolving field in dementia research, providing deep insight into how glial energy metabolism contributes to neurodegenerative processes. Recent studies have shown that astrocytes actively regulate neuronal bioenergetics and redox balance, and that their mitochondrial dysfunction leads to compromised brain energy homeostasis. In Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, growing evidence points to a bidirectional relationship between astrocytic stress and neuronal degeneration, mediated by altered metabolic pathways, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Advanced multimodal metabolic imaging, including magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), positron emission tomography (PET), and hyperpolarized 13C MRI, now allows researchers to quantify these changes in vivo, yet significant gaps remain in linking molecular mechanisms with clinical outcomes. Key questions persist regarding how astrocyte-mitochondria interactions evolve across disease stages and whether targeting these pathways can restore metabolic integrity. GoalThe aim of this Research Topic is to provide a focused forum for studies examining how astrocyte dysfunction and mitochondrial impairment contribute to brain energy failure in dementia. By bringing together mechanistic, translational, and clinical perspectives, we seek to clarify the astrocyte-mitochondria axis in Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders, with particular attention to emerging multimodal metabolic imaging approaches, biomarkers, and therapeutic opportunities targeting glial bioenergetics.Scope and informationThe goal is to define how glial bioenergetic failure contributes to neurodegeneration and to identify therapeutic windows for intervention. We encourage contributions that explore cellular and molecular mechanisms, as well as translational studies that bridge laboratory discoveries with potential clinical strategies. Emphasis will be placed on understanding neuronal–glial metabolic coupling, the role of mitochondrial dynamics, and the potential of targeting astrocytic metabolism for disease modification.To gather further insights into the metabolic and cellular networks underlying dementia, we welcome articles addressing—but not limited to—the following themes:o Astrocyte–mitochondria crosstalk and energy metabolism in neurodegenerationo Advanced metabolic imaging approaches, including MRS, PET, hyperpolarized 13C MRI, and multimodal neuroimaging in dementia researcho Biomarkers of astrocyte dysfunction and mitochondrial impairmento Neuroinflammation and redox balance in astrocytic energy failureo Translational strategies targeting glial metabolism for therapeutic developmento Integration of omics approaches to elucidate astrocytic bioenergetics Topic editors: Yuhei Takado, João M.N. Duarte, Kosei Hirata Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83260/astrocyte-metabolism-and-mitochondrial-dysfunction-in-dementia-the-metabolic-breakdown