The Role of Mitochondria in Brain Aging and the Effects of Melatonin

Germaine      Escames; Ana      Lopez; Jose      Antonio Garcia; Laura      Garcia; Dario      Acuna-Castroviejo; Jose      Joaquin Garcia; Luis      Carlos Lopez

Abstract

Melatonin is an endogenous indoleamine present in different tissues, cellular compartments and organelles including mitochondria. When melatonin is administered orally, it is readily available to the brain where it counteracts different processes that occur during aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. These aging processes include oxidative stress and oxidative damage, chronic and acute inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of neural regeneration. This review summarizes age related changes in the brain and the importance of oxidative/nitrosative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in brain aging. The data and mechanisms of action of melatonin in relation to aging of the brain are reviewed as well.

Keywords: Melatonin, mitochondria, oxidative stress, brain, aging, neurodegenerative diseases, neural stem cells

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