Elucidation of Hypobulia and Possibility of Neurotherapeutic Approach in the Very Elderly

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20671
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Studies on the Super-Aging Society
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Fujiyama Fumino 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (20244022)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平井 康治 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 特任助教 (30648431) ; 苅部 冬紀 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (60312279)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 大脳基底核 / ドーパミン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

When considering the problems of the elderly, it is a basic premise to know what kind of nerve tracts the elderly brain has become, and we should consider a treatment approach after recognizing this. In this study, we conduct a systematic analysis from the synaptic to the behavioral level in young and old animals (Basically rodents, some anatomy of marmosets) to elucidate the anatomical and electrophysiological changes of nerve tracts during aging. Recccently, we identified a specialized dopamine receptor region common to young and aged rodents (mice and rats) and reported that this region is also present in marmosets (Ogata et al., 2022).In addition, the input/output structure of this region was clarified.

Free Research Field

神経解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

米国での "Choosing Wisely" キャンペーンに見て取れるように、根拠が乏しいままの高齢者への医療行為に対する解決策を検討することであろう。また、「生命寿命」のみならず「健康寿命」を伸ばし、well-beingを実現するためには、高齢者特有の「意欲の低下、行動学習の困難」の神経基盤を解明することが必要である。本研究は、“加齢とともに変化する「意欲と行動学習を担う」神経路”を解明し、正確かつ現実的な治療方針につなげるという、本領域に合致する研究である。