The Janus-faced Impact of caffeine in the developing and the ageing brain: role of synaptic remodeling – JANUS

Caffeine is the most consumed psychoactive substance in the world, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It has an impact on public health which depends on the period of exposure. Our consortium has shown that perinatal exposure has detrimental effects on brain maturation, promoting seizures and memory loss. Conversely, caffeine consumption during adulthood limits age-related cognitive decline. Considering the positive and negative effects of caffeine, it is important to identify its underlying mechanisms of action in the developing and aging brain. Our consortium will test, through a multidisciplinary approach, the hypothesis that both negative and positive effects of caffeine are linked to its action on glutamatergic synapses via the A2A-type adenosine receptor and microglia. Our project will provide important data in terms of public health and may ultimately allow us to target neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative diseases.