Neuronal inputs and outputs of aging and longevity

Abstract

An animal's survival strongly depends on its ability to maintain homeostasis in response to the changing quality of its external and internalenvironment. This is achieved through intracellular and intercellular communication within and among different tissues. One of the organsystems that plays a major role in this communication and the maintenance of homeostasis is the nervous system. Here we highlight different aspects of the neuronal inputs and outputs of pathways that affect aging and longevity. Accordingly, we discuss how sensory inputs influence homeostasis and lifespan through the modulation of different types of neuronal signals, whichreflects the complexity of the environmental cues that affect physiology.We also describe feedback, compensatory, and feed-forward mechanisms in these longevity-modulating pathways that are necessary for homeostasis. Finally, we consider the temporal requirements for these neuronal processesand the potential role of natural genetic variation in shaping the neurobiology of aging. © 2013 Alcedo, Flatt and Pasyukova.