Award details

Candidate neuronal genes in cognition and ageing

Reference	BBS/E/B/0000C115
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Piers Emson
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Babraham Institute
Department	Babraham Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	492,998
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/1997
End date	01/07/2008
Duration	129 months

Abstract

This project will explore neural mechanisms and transmitter systems which are important in neuronal signalling and memory formation. It will target transmitter systems and genes in normal and transgenic models to study their role in learning, memory and cognitive decline with ageing. The main neuronal systems being studied include the cerebral cortical principal neurones (glutaminergic), local interneurones (primarily GABAergic) and ascending aminergic systems. The main genes being investigated include those known to interfere with cognition in man and implicated in cognitive decline; these include amyloid precursor proteins (APP), tau and alpha-synuclein.These genes are all implicated in neuronal signalling and memory. Multidisciplinary studies combining molecular, neurophysiological, neurochemical and behavioural techniques will be used to establish involvement in brain processes underlying learning and memory and their decline during ageing. Parallel work using primary neuronal cultures from transgenic models explores signalling pathways/mechanisms implicated in loss or distrubed function in these ageing models.This project aims to identify genes and transmitter systems involved in cognitive processes and ageing and is therefore directly relevant to Foresight H&LS priorities in Integrative Biology, molecular and cellular Neurobiology, cognitive sciences and Ageing and to the exploitation as recommended by the Foresight panel of expertise in molecular biology to create novel models of disease. Likely outputs and benefits will be increased understanding of genes involved in plastic changes in the nervous system underlying learning and memory and in their decline during normal ageing or neurodegenerative diseases.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	Ageing, Neuroscience and Behaviour
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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