Longitudinal multipoint analysis of peripheral nerves, skeletal muscle, and capillaries to examine the degenerative changes associated with aging.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19694
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Kyoto Tachibana University
• Principal Investigator: Sakita Masahiro 京都橘大学, 健康科学部, 教授 (10582190)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ラット / 脛骨神経 / 加齢性退行 / 小胞体ストレス応答

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to biochemically analyze the crosstalk of survival and repair factors in the tibial nerve and soleus muscle and the dynamics of regression factors (apoptosis and oxidative stress) with aging to comprehensively validate the regression. However, since it took two years to create the aged rats and the subsequent analysis of all samples was enormous, only nerve samples were analyzed.
The possible mechanisms of age-related degeneration of the tibial nerve included an increase in degenerative proteins and apoptosis due to increased oxidative stress in the nerve tissue with aging.

Free Research Field

健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

高齢者の転倒は、廃用症候群や認知症を併発させるイベントとして社会問題になっている。近年、末梢神経退行と転倒に関連があると報告されているが、末梢神経退行の生化学的メカニズムは縦断的に明らかにされていない。本研究の成果は、高齢者の転倒に起因する末梢神経退行の予防・改善の一助となる。すなわち、従来からの主要な転倒予防・改善策である筋力強化に編重した概念から脱却し、末梢神経退行の機序に応じた予防・改善策の開発に対して先駆的な役割を果たすと考えられる。