2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Mechanism for Brain Aging
| Project Area | Principles of memory dynamism elucidated from a diversity of learning systems |
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| Project/Area Number |
25115004
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Review Section |
Biological Sciences
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokyo |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2013-06-28 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | 学習記憶 / 脳老化 / 海馬 / 報酬系 / ドーパミン / fMRI |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
In order to elucidate the mechanism of brain aging, we conducted a study using Alzheimer's disease model mice and a study for healthy elderly people. We found that the inflammatory response in brain tissue greatly contributes to the decline in brain function due to aging. When an inflammatory reaction occurs in the brain, production of inflammatory cytokines is enhanced in glial cells (astrocytes and microglia), and the function of the cerebrovascular barrier is reduced in cerebral blood vessels. It was found that such changes reduce synaptic function in each neuron, modulate the neural network, and reduce memory function and cognitive function during aging. In order to investigate the decline mechanism of learning and memory function, we performed operant learning task fMRI study to visualize brain circuit activity of mouse, such as Alzheimer's Disease model mice.
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| Free Research Field |
神経科学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
健康な人であっても高齢になれば、年とともに記憶機能や認知機能が低下する。神経炎症を、薬剤などで制御し抑制することによって、低下した脳機能を回復させることが可能であることが判った。通常のマウスに比べて、アルツハイマー病モデルマウスでは、海馬や報酬系の脳活動が変化していることが示唆された。オペラントタスクfMRI研究は、脳機能の低下メカニズムを調べ、記憶ダイナミズムを明らかにすることに加えて、意識や情動の面を含めた脳の全体的な認知機能を調べる上で重要な研究ツールになると期待された。
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