Stephan Sigrist: Dietary Spermidine, Neuroplasticity, Aging, and Brain Health

Polyamines are small organic molecules that are acquired in the diet and can also be synthesized in cells. Spermidine is a polyamine that is increasingly recognized as playing important roles in counteracting aging. Foods with high amounts of spermidine include whole grains, broccoli, and natto (fermented soybeans). Professor Stephan Sigrist at the Free University of Berlin who is widely known for his fundamental contributions to understanding how specific proteins and their interactions control the rapid release and reuptake of neurotransmitters at the presynaptic active zone.  In this episode I talk with Stephan about his recent fascinating discoveries that have revealed important roles for spermidine in synaptic plasticity, and brain health and resilience. Spermidine stimulates autophagy which may be required for the anti-aging effect of dietary energy restriction. He talks about the intriguing molecular mechanism by which spermidine accomplishes these feats.

LINKS

Sigrist lab page: https://www.bcp.fu-berlin.de/en/biologie/arbeitsgruppen/genetik/ag_sigrist/mitarbeiter/leiter/sigrist/index.html

Spermidine counteracts brain aging:

https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2211-1247%2821%2900255-2

Autophagy mediates beneficial effects of spermidine on memory during aging:

https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.3512.pdf

Spermidine preserves synaptic plasticity during aging:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5042543/pdf/pbio.1002563.pdf

Spermidine, fasting and longevity:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11392816/pdf/41556_2024_Article_1468.pdf

Clinical trial of spermidine – effects on cognition in older folks:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2792725