The coming decades will be marked by a """"""""graying"""""""" of the United States population. The most rapidly growing demographic group in the country is that of elderly persons, and within this group, that of the """"""""oldest old."""""""" These trends pose significant challenges to our current medical practice. For example, the underlying causes of age-related behavioral changes remain undetermined. This application will examine the relationship between aging and changes in functional behaviors (eating, drinking, activity) by testing the hypotheses that (1) Age-related changes in mouse functional behaviors correlate with changes in gene expression regulating inflammatory and immune mediators, and (2) exercise and environmental enrichment improve CNS functional reserve by delaying or diminishing differential expression of genes regulating immune and inflammatory processes. We propose a cross-sectional study of young, middle-aged, and aged mice. Behaviors will be monitored using a state-of-the-art system that finely classifies large behavioral data streams in a reliable and automated fashion. Measures of overall behavior, including those of circadian rhythm, time budget, and properties (duration, frequency, etc.) of movement, feeding, and drinking bouts will be analyzed. Preliminary data find alterations in these measures similar to those seen in aging human populations. Additionally, gene expression in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex will be assessed using microarray and QT-PCR methods. Differentially expressed gene products will be classified by gene purpose. This will allow us to test whether observed behaviors correlate with changes in genes regulating immune responses rather than genes regulating activity, movement, and ingestive behaviors. We will also use graph-theory approaches to identify specific metabolic pathways (e.g., Atf3-Mapk8-Tlr2) altered in the aging hypothalamus. We also propose a longitudinal study to test whether lifestyle modifications including exercise and environmental enrichment increase CNS functional reserve. We will use similar measures of mouse behavior and gene expression as outcomes in this study. Ultimately, we anticipate that these data will provide important insight regarding the nature of aging processes in the brain, and may suggest important genetic targets for therapeutic manipulation.

Public Health Relevance

Ultimately, it is anticipated that these data will provide important insight regarding the nature of aging processes in the brain, and may suggest important genetic targets for therapeutic manipulation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AG031158-04
Application #
8061708
Study Section
Aging Systems and Geriatrics Study Section (ASG)
Program Officer
Mackiewicz, Miroslaw
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2011-06-15
Budget End
2012-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$587,666
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
168559177
City
Omaha
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68198
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