Over half a million euros in DFG funding for Miguel Alejandre Alcazar & Julian Wagner

to investigate the inter- and transgenerational metabolic priming of the neuro-cardiopulmonary interface in health and aging.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide, with risk increasing significantly with age. This is in part due to a decline in the heart’s natural regenerative capacity as we grow older.

Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that make the aging heart more vulnerable to disease is therefore critical. Our previous research has shown that the nervous system plays a key role in the aging heart. In older individuals, the density of nerve fibers controlling the heart decreases, which can lead to arrythmias and reduced cardiac function.

Besides aging, overweight and obesity are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Of particular concern is, that an adverse metabolic environment early in life can have lasting negative effects on heart health.

Therefore, Dr. Wagner and Prof. Alcazar joint forces and now aim to investigate whether and how obesity across multiple generations affects the development and function of the nervous system and heart – and how this may accelerate cardiac aging.

This interdisciplinary project combines expertise in metabolism and aging research and will provide new insights into the complex interactions between metabolism, the nervous system, and the heart during aging. Ultimately, the findings may lead to novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases.
 

This message has been modified by the CMMC (K. Heber & D. Grosskopf-Kroiher) and is based on the text by the press and communications teams of the CECAD (CECAD version here). Original Publication here: https://cpi-online.de/news/dfg-funding-wagner-alcazar/