Autophagy as a Link Between Peripheral Metabolism, Stress, and Mental Health: From Experimental Models to Clinical Applications – AUTOHEALTH

Consortium:

• University Clinic Bonn, Department of Psychiatry – Germany (Coordinator)
• Łukasiewicz Research Network – PORT Polish Center for Technology Development – Poland (Partner)
• Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry, Munich – Germany (Partner)
• University of Haifa, Department of Neurobiology – Israel (Partner)
• Koç University School of Medicine, Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Istanbul – Turkey (Partner)

Mental and metabolic disorders frequently co-occur, and stress is a shared risk factor for both. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this complex relationship remain poorly understood, hindering the development of effective therapies. AutoHealth is an innovative research project designed to elucidate how stress affects both the brain and the body. Central to this effort is autophagy—a key cellular process responsible for clearing and recycling damaged cellular components, essential for maintaining proper cell function. Although impaired autophagy has been linked to various psychiatric and metabolic diseases, its role in the context of stress remains largely unexplored.

AutoHealth will investigate both animal models of early-life stress and human participants with diverse psychiatric and metabolic profiles, as well as differing histories of stress exposure. By analyzing long-term changes in behavior, physiology, and metabolism, the project aims to explain how stress contributes to disease development. Advanced molecular and imaging techniques will be employed to assess how stress influences autophagic processes in neural and metabolic tissues. Additionally, AutoHealth will test potential therapies using well-tolerated, already available autophagy-modulating drugs to alleviate stress-related symptoms. Promising preclinical findings will then be translated into clinical research, ensuring a patient-centered approach.

By integrating expertise from neuroscience, metabolism, and pharmacology, AutoHealth aims to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy in the treatment of stress-related disorders. The project emphasizes close collaboration with patient organizations, healthcare professionals, and scientists worldwide to maximize its impact and support the advancement of innovative therapeutic approaches. Ultimately, AutoHealth seeks to deepen understanding of brain–body interactions in the context of stress and to establish a foundation for more effective, targeted interventions.