GLUCOCORTICOID REGULATION OF MEMORY PERFORMANCE IN AGING HUMANS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 糖皮质激素(GC)被认为可以调节大脑新陈代谢、生理和基因表达，特别是在海马体中，以及整个动物的记忆功能。各种GC，包括内源性的人GC皮质醇，可以剂量和时间依赖的方式以可逆的方式减少人类的记忆。这些结果与医源性GC暴露和应激相关的神经精神疾病有关。此外，最近对老年人的研究表明，与年龄相关的皮质醇水平的增加与年龄相关的记忆力下降有关。基于这些关联，该应用程序建议现在使用受控实验设计来测试GC暴露对老年人的直接影响，以便可以定义对年轻人和老年人产生显著影响的“剂量”阈值。这一知识对于识别记忆受损的风险个体以及最终预防这种影响的治疗考虑(例如，GC受体拮抗剂或钙通道阻滞剂)至关重要。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are know to regulate brain metabolism, physiology and gene expression, particularly in the hippocampus, as well as memory function in whole animals. Various GCs, including the endogenous human GC cortisol, can dose-and time-dependently decrease human memory in a reversible manner. These results are relevant to both iatrogenic GC exposure and stress-related neuropsychiatric conditions. In addition recent studies in aging humans suggest that age-related increases in cortisol levels are associated with progressice age-related memory declines. Based on these associations, this application proposes to now test the direct effect of GC exposure on older humans using a controlled experimental design so that the "dose" threshold for significant effects in younger and older humans can be defined. This knowledge is critical to the identification of individuals at risk for memory impairment and ultimately to treatment considerations for the prevention of this effect (e.g., GC receptor antagonists or calcium channel blockers).