As we age, our bodies and brains undergo significant changes. Declining muscle force and power lead to mobility disability and impaired quality of life. Skeletal muscles naturally undergo denervation and reinnervation, but with aging, denervation overcomes reinnervation. The mechanisms that destabilize the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) with age, including post-synaptic terminal fragmentation, shrinkage, and simplification, are still unknown.
Our perceptual experiences also change due to alterations in myelination and functional connectivity throughout the brain, especially in areas associated with sensory and higher-order cognitive functions.
We use a combination of clinical, statistical, and basic science approaches to:
- Understand the mechanistic bases of these changes.
- Identify the factors that predict them.
- Test new interventional strategies to prevent or reverse age-related decline in neurological function.
Associated Faculty
Carol A. Shively Paul J. Laurienti Kimberly Francis Raab-Graham Osvaldo Delbono Tao Ma Allyn Howlett Timothy Michael Hughes Ramon Casanova Gretchen Brenes Christopher T. Whitlow Meredith Addicott |
Laura Baker Sean L. Simpson Christina Elizabeth Hugenschmidt Trey Bateman Mark Baxter Pooja Jadiya Kiran Solingapuram Sai Leah Solberg Woods Christina Meade |