Mitochondria and Memory: Bioenergetics, Synaptic Plasticity and Neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial and synaptic dysfunction occur in neurodegenerative disease. Preservation of the physiological ability of a synapse to alter the frequency or amplitude of its responses after changes in activity level appears to be required for normal brain function; failure to attain healthy synaptic plasticity underlies deficits in diverse brain diseases. The cell death channel known as the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is likely to be an important therapeutic target in neurodegeneration but whether mPTP in the synapse contributes to mitochondrial and synaptic plasticity has yet to be explored.