Neuroscience research has increasingly focused on the role of autophagy in maintaining neuronal health and metabolism. Neurons, with their complex architecture and post-mitotic nature, require efficient mechanisms to recycle damaged components and sustain metabolic demands. Despite their longevity, neuronal proteins and organelles have a shorter lifespan, necessitating continuous turnover. Autophagy, a highly conserved cellular process, is pivotal in degrading and recycling cellular components to support metabolism. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of neural macroautophagy in both health and disease, with knockout models in mice demonstrating severe neurodegenerative and developmental defects. In humans, mutations in autophagy-related genes (ATG) have been linked to various neurological disorders, including static encephalopathy and congenital ataxia. However, the specific contributions of autophagy, particularly selective autophagy like mitophagy, to nervous system metabolism remain underexplored, necessitating further investigation.

This Research Topic aims to elucidate the role of autophagy in neural metabolism, addressing key questions such as the impact of autophagic processes on metabolism within the nervous system, their function during development, nutrient scarcity, and aging, and their molecular links to neuronal pathology. The research will explore the metabolic contributions of autophagy, especially selective autophagy, in nervous system development, degeneration, and overall health. Additionally, it seeks to understand how the nervous system senses metabolic changes during stress, infection, or development, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of neuronal biology and human health.

To gather further insights into the contribution of autophagy to neural metabolism, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The role of autophagy in health and disease in the nervous system
• Novel methods to monitor autophagy in vitro and in vivo
• The role of selective autophagy in the nervous system
• Mitochondrial fitness and mitophagy in the nervous system
• Stress response and metabolic effect on the nervous system.

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Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

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