[The Svedberg seminar] – Beneficial effects of astrocytic metabolic modulation in Alzheimer’s disease
November 9, 2026 @ 15:15 – 16:15 CET
Maite Solas Zubiaurre
Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Navarra, Spain
Bio
Maite Solas Zubiaurre is a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Navarra (Spain), where she leads the SOLAS Lab. Her research focuses on the role of astrocyte metabolism in brain function and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s disease, with a special emphasis on glucose metabolism and insulin signalling.
Beneficial effects of astrocytic metabolic modulation in Alzheimer’s disease
Aberrant brain energy metabolism is considered a key mechanism in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with alterations in glucose uptake occurring before symptoms appear. Glucose transport into the brain is regulated by GLUT1, highly expressed in astrocytes, which are strategically positioned to control this process. This study examined the effects of astrocyte-specific GLUT1 deletion in an AD mouse model.
Unexpectedly, removing astrocytic GLUT1 reduced mortality in APP/PS1 mice and improved cognitive performance in behavioral tests, without affecting amyloid-β pathology. Additionally, astrocytic Ca²⁺ dynamics were enhanced, and disrupting this activity abolished the cognitive benefits, highlighting its importance.
Since AD progression involves shifts in neuronal activity, hippocampal circuits were analyzed. GLUT1 deletion restored neuronal hypoactivity observed in later stages, likely linked to improved astrocytic function.
Overall, these findings suggest that astrocytes lacking GLUT1 retain metabolic capacity under amyloid stress and, rather than worsening pathology, help prevent mortality and cognitive decline in this AD model.
Host: Melisa Bentivegna melisa.bentivegna@mcb.uu.se
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