The aging process involves progressive deterioration of many physiological functions over time. Sleep which serves a restorative function is also disrupted with aging. There is fragmentation of both sleep and wake and daytime sleepiness is a common problem in the elderly. Increased daytime sleepiness may be a consequence of poor nighttime sleep quality or an impaired ability to maintain wakefulness. Fragmentation of wake occurs largely as a result of an inability to sustain long bouts of wakefulness. The mechanisms for this change and its consequences are unknown. We have found that Homerl scaffolding proteins that are found in the post-synaptic density modulate the stability of sustaining state. Mice lacking the dominant negative short form of Homer1, Homer1a, are unable to maintain wakefulness during the active period much like the aged. We hypothesize that the maintenance of wake requires Homer1a and that declines in or loss of this mechanism leads to behavioral state instability that is observed during aging. This proposal will seek to determine the molecular mechanisms by which Homer1a contributes to the maintenance of wake and how these change with age to understand the molecular basis of wake fragmentation with age. Our proposed studies will determine the cellular basis of Homer1a-dependent control of sustained wake by mapping where in the brain Homeria is required (Specific Aim1). Using metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) transgenic knockin mice we will explore a novel signaling pathway to determine the mechanism underlying Homeria action in the maintenance of wakefulness (Specific Aim 2).
In Specific Aim 3 we will examine where in the brain Homeria is reduced with aging, investigate age-related molecular changes in the Homer1a-mGluR signaling pathway and finally determine how declining Homer1a expression that occurs with aging correlates with the inability to maintain wakefulness.
Fragmentation of sleep and wake occur with aging. This results from an inability to maintain behavioral state. Our studies seek to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of sleep and wake states and determine how they change with age.
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