Amygdala astrocyte senescence drives stress-induced anxiety and hyperglycemia

Chronic stress in mice leads to hyperglycemia and anxiety-like behaviors associated with changes in brain cell function.

• Chronic stress causes hyperglycemia and promotes aging-like changes in specific brain cells called astrocytes.
• The aging-like changes in astrocytes are linked to a decrease in a protein called hexokinase 2 (HK2).
• Decreased HK2 levels in astrocytes disrupt the production of L-serine, which affects the supply of another molecule, D-serine, to neurons.
• Lower levels of D-serine in the brain impair the balance between nerve signals that control blood sugar levels.
• Supplementing with L-serine or using certain drugs to clear aging cells improves both anxiety-like behaviors and blood sugar levels in stressed mice.

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