Myeloid cell bioenergetics regulate cognitive function in aging

A hallmark of aging is the appearance of sustained pro‐inflammatory responses and reduced clearance of pathogenic materials. Systemically, aging is accompanied by a skewing of the immune system towards the myeloid cell lineage and an increase in circulating pro‐ inflammatory factors. In the aging brain, functional degradation of microglia leads to the accumulation of neurotoxic misfolded proteins, a loss of trophic factors that support neurons, and a failure to maintain a homeostatic microenvironment. However, the underlying mechanisms that initiate and sustain maladaptive inflammation with aging are not well defined.