How mitochondria shape brain health from childhood to old age

From the first spark of neural development to the challenges of ageing, Dr Lissette Sánchez Aranguren is uncovering how the cell’s powerhouses — mitochondria — hold the key to a healthy brain across the human lifespan.

Her pioneering research at Aston University explores how these microscopic energy generators safeguard the brain’s communication network and how their dysfunction may underlie conditions such as dementia, stroke, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Mapping the brain’s energy defence system

Dr Sánchez Aranguren’s work focuses on the partnership between brain cells and the blood vessels that nourish them — a relationship maintained by the blood–brain barrier. When mitochondria fail, that protective interface can weaken, allowing harmful molecules to penetrate and trigger inflammation or cell loss. Her team’s studies show that mitochondrial malfunction disrupts the dialogue between neurons and vascular cells, an imbalance seen both in the developing and ageing brain.

To counter this, she and her collaborators have engineered a mitochondria-targeted liposome, a nanoscale “bubble” that delivers restorative molecules directly where they are needed most. By re-balancing cellular energy and communication, this innovation could one day reduce brain injury or slow neurodegenerative decline.

From heart cells to the human mind

Originally trained in cardiovascular science, Dr Sánchez Aranguren became fascinated by how mitochondria regulate energy and stress in blood-vessel cells — insights that ultimately led her toward neuroscience.

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“Mitochondria do much more than produce energy. They send signals that determine how cells communicate and survive.”

That realisation inspired her to trace mitochondrial signalling across the continuum of life — linking early brain development to later-life vulnerability. Her research now bridges traditionally separate fields of developmental biology, vascular physiology, and ageing neuroscience, helping identify shared molecular pathways that influence lifelong brain resilience.

Global collaboration for a healthier brain

Her work thrives on multidisciplinary and international partnerships. At  Aston, she collaborates with scientists from Coventry University, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Lincoln, alongside research partners in the Netherlands, Italy, Malaysia, and China. Together they integrate chemistry, biology, and computational modelling to understand mitochondrial function from molecule to organism — and translate discoveries into practical therapies.

Towards mitochondria-targeted brain therapies

The next frontier is refining these mitochondria-targeted nanocarriers to enhance precision and efficacy in preclinical models, while exploring how mitochondrial signals shape the brain’s vascular and neural architecture from infancy through adulthood.

Dr Sánchez Aranguren envisions a future where protecting mitochondrial health becomes central to preventing brain disease, shifting medicine from managing symptoms to preserving the brain’s natural defence and repair systems.

“If we can protect the cell’s own energy engines,” she says, “we can give the brain its best chance to stay healthy for life.”