We investigate the mechanisms governing the lifelong production of neurons in the adult brain (adult neurogenesis).
Physical exercise is one of the strongest positive regulators of adult neurogenesis. However, despite being discovered over 20 years ago, and being extensively studied ever since, the mechanism which underlies this response remains unknown.
The overarching goal of our research is to identify the mechanism by which exercise increases neurogenesis, and to apply this knowledge to identify novel strategies to reverse the neuronal loss that is associated with physiological ageing, stroke, motor neuron disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Group leader
Dr Tara Walker
Research Fellow
+61 7 3446 6498
t.walker1@uq.edu.au
UQ Researcher Profile
Latest news
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Blood cells the missing link in post-exercise boost
22 March 2019
Stroke research
Research Articles
Protocol for three alternative paradigms to test spatial learning and memory in mice
Blackmore, Daniel G., Brici, David and Walker, Tara L. (2022). Protocol for three alternative paradigms to test spatial learning and memory in mice. STAR Protocols, 3 (3) 101500, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101500Hill, Melissa A., Bentley, Steven R., Walker, Tara L., Mellick, George D., Wood, Stephen A. and Sykes, Alex M. (2022). Does a rare mutation in PTPRA contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease in an Australian multi-incident family?. PLoS ONE, 17 (7 July) e0271499, e0271499. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271499
Leiter, Odette, Zhuo, Zhan, Rust, Ruslan, Wasielewska, Joanna M., Grönnert, Lisa, Kowal, Susann, Overall, Rupert W., Adusumilli, Vijay S., Blackmore, Daniel G., Southon, Adam, Ganio, Katherine, McDevitt, Christopher A., Rund, Nicole, Brici, David, Aththanayake Mudiyan, Imesh , Sykes, Alexander M., Rünker, Annette E., Zocher, Sara, Ayton, Scott, Bush, Ashley I., Bartlett, Perry F., Hou, Sheng-Tao, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2022). Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging. Cell Metabolism, 34 (3), 408-423.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005
Apple Peel and Flesh Contain Pro-neurogenic Compounds
Ichwan, Muhammad, Walker, Tara L., Nicola, Zeina, Ludwig-Müller, Jutta, Böttcher, Christoph, Overall, Rupert W., Adusumilli, Vijay S., Bulut, Merve, Sykes, Alex M., Hübner, Norbert, Ramirez-Rodriguez, Gerardo, Ortiz-López, Leonardo, Lugo-Hernández, Enrique A. and Kempermann, Gerd (2021). Apple Peel and Flesh Contain Pro-neurogenic Compounds. Stem Cell Reports, 16 (3), 548-565. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.005
Adusumilli, Vijay S., Walker, Tara L., Overall, Rupert W., Klatt, Gesa M., Zeidan, Salma A., Zocher, Sara, Kirova, Dilyana G., Ntitsias, Konstantinos, Fischer, Tim J., Sykes, Alex M., Reinhardt, Susanne, Dahl, Andreas, Mansfeld, Jörg, Rünker, Annette E. and Kempermann, Gerd (2021). ROS dynamics delineate functional states of hippocampal neural stem cells and link to their activity-dependent exit from quiescence. Cell Stem Cell, 28 (2), 300-314.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2020.10.019
Platelets in Neurodegenerative Conditions—Friend or Foe?
Leiter, Odette and Walker, Tara L. (2020). Platelets in Neurodegenerative Conditions—Friend or Foe?. Frontiers in Immunology, 11 747, 747. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00747
Engel, Daiane F., Grzyb, Anna N., de Oliveira, Jade, Poetzsch, Alexandra, Walker, Tara L., Brocardo, Patricia S., Kempermann, Gerd and de Bem, Andreza F. (2019). Impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis in a mouse model of familial hypercholesterolemia: a role for the LDL receptor and cholesterol metabolism in adult neural precursor cells. Molecular Metabolism, 30, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2019.09.002
Platelets: the missing link between the blood and brain?
Leiter, Odette and Walker, Tara L. (2019). Platelets: the missing link between the blood and brain?. Progress in Neurobiology, 183 101695, 101695. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.101695
Leiter, Odette, Bernas, Stefanie N., Seidemann, Suse, Overall, Rupert W., Horenburg, Cindy, Kowal, Susann, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2019). The systemic exercise-released chemokine lymphotactin/XCL1 modulates in vitro adult hippocampal precursor cell proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 11831, 11831. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48360-5
MiR-135a1-5p is critical for exercise-induced adult neurogenesis
Pons-Espinal, Meritxell, Gasperini, Caterina, Marzi, Matteo J., Braccia, Clarissa, Armirotti, Andrea, Poetzsch, Alexandra, Walker, Tara L., Fabel, Klaus, Nicassio, Francesco, Kempermann, Gerd and Tonelli, Davide De Pietri (2019). MiR-135a1-5p is critical for exercise-induced adult neurogenesis. Stem Cell Reports, 12 (6), 1298-1312. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.04.020
Leiter, Odette, Seidemann, Suse, Overall, Rupert W., Ramasz, Beáta, Rund, Nicole, Schallenberg, Sonja, Grinenko, Tatyana, Wielockx, Ben, Kempermann, Gerd and Walker, Tara L. (2019). Exercise-induced activated platelets increase adult hippocampal precursor proliferation and promote neuronal differentiation. Stem Cell Reports, 12 (4), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.02.009
What inspires Dr Walker
We are trying to understand the mechanism by which exercise boosts new neuron generation in the adult hippocampus (adult neurogenesis).
Using exercise as a model of increased neurogenesis, we have identified two novel strategies to increase neurogenesis and improve cognitive function - exercise-induced platelet activation and selenium-mediated ferroptosis.
We are now applying this knowledge to determine whether these interventions can be applied to boost neurogenesis in cases of neuronal loss including physiological ageing, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and motor neuron disease.