scholarly journals Age-specific changes in cognitive function

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 01015
Author(s):  
Alena Sidenkova ◽  
Anara Sorokina ◽  
Vasilisa Litvinenko ◽  
Artem Novoselov ◽  
Oleg Serdyuk
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Dynamic Heterogeneity ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Pathological Aging ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Higher Brain Functions

Currently, the number of cases of pathological aging of the central nervous system, represented by a violation of cognitive functions, is increasing. But there is a social request to prolong the physical and mental activity of older people. The study of the dynamics of cognitive aging is timely and relevant. The article contains a report on a cohore non-repeating study of higher brain functions at various age periods. 148 people involved. Their age is 27 -74 years. They are right handed. We applied the screening neuropsychological method. Statistical data processing was performed using SPSS Statistics 17.0 (Mann-Whitney U-test). The dynamic heterogeneity of the cognitive profile during aging was revealed. The deterioration in the performance of the graphomotor test was the most age-specific. In older study participants, a decrease in the visual gnosis test correlated with a decrease in non-verbal intelligence. The decrease in executive functions correlated with the growth of neurodynamic disorders in elderly study participants. The results obtained are useful for differentiating normative and pathological aging of the central nervous system.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Glutamate Transport

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1621-1657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Vandenberg ◽  
Renae M. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Glutamate Transporter ◽  
Glutamate Transporters ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Broad Perspective ◽  
Excitatory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
The Central Nervous System

l-Glutamate is the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system and plays important roles in a wide variety of brain functions, but it is also a key player in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders. The control of glutamate concentrations is critical to the normal functioning of the central nervous system, and in this review we discuss how glutamate transporters regulate glutamate concentrations to maintain dynamic signaling mechanisms between neurons. In 2004, the crystal structure of a prokaryotic homolog of the mammalian glutamate transporter family of proteins was crystallized and its structure determined. This has paved the way for a better understanding of the structural basis for glutamate transporter function. In this review we provide a broad perspective of this field of research, but focus primarily on the more recent studies with a particular emphasis on how our understanding of the structure of glutamate transporters has generated new insights.

scholarly journals Neuroimmune Interactions: From the Brain to the Immune System and Vice Versa

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 477-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Dantzer
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Short Range ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Because of the compartmentalization of disciplines that shaped the academic landscape of biology and biomedical sciences in the past, physiological systems have long been studied in isolation from each other. This has particularly been the case for the immune system. As a consequence of its ties with pathology and microbiology, immunology as a discipline has largely grown independently of physiology. Accordingly, it has taken a long time for immunologists to accept the concept that the immune system is not self-regulated but functions in close association with the nervous system. These associations are present at different levels of organization. At the local level, there is clear evidence for the production and use of immune factors by the central nervous system and for the production and use of neuroendocrine mediators by the immune system. Short-range interactions between immune cells and peripheral nerve endings innervating immune organs allow the immune system to recruit local neuronal elements for fine tuning of the immune response. Reciprocally, immune cells and mediators play a regulatory role in the nervous system and participate in the elimination and plasticity of synapses during development as well as in synaptic plasticity at adulthood. At the whole organism level, long-range interactions between immune cells and the central nervous system allow the immune system to engage the rest of the body in the fight against infection from pathogenic microorganisms and permit the nervous system to regulate immune functioning. Alterations in communication pathways between the immune system and the nervous system can account for many pathological conditions that were initially attributed to strict organ dysfunction. This applies in particular to psychiatric disorders and several immune-mediated diseases. This review will show how our understanding of this balance between long-range and short-range interactions between the immune system and the central nervous system has evolved over time, since the first demonstrations of immune influences on brain functions. The necessary complementarity of these two modes of communication will then be discussed. Finally, a few examples will illustrate how dysfunction in these communication pathways results in what was formerly considered in psychiatry and immunology to be strict organ pathologies.

New dimensions of connectomics and network plasticity in the central nervous system

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Guidolin ◽  
Manuela Marcoli ◽  
Guido Maura ◽  
Luigi F. Agnati
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Network Architecture ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Brain Connectome ◽  
Communication Processes ◽  
Cell Components ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

AbstractCellular network architecture plays a crucial role as the structural substrate for the brain functions. Therefore, it represents the main rationale for the emerging field of connectomics, defined as the comprehensive study of all aspects of central nervous system connectivity. Accordingly, in the present paper the main emphasis will be on the communication processes in the brain, namely wiring transmission (WT), i.e. the mapping of the communication channels made by cell components such as axons and synapses, and volume transmission (VT), i.e. the chemical signal diffusion along the interstitial brain fluid pathways. Considering both processes can further expand the connectomics concept, since both WT-connectomics and VT-connectomics contribute to the structure of the brain connectome. A consensus exists that such a structure follows a hierarchical or nested architecture, and macro-, meso- and microscales have been defined. In this respect, however, several lines of evidence indicate that a nanoscale (nano-connectomics) should also be considered to capture direct protein-protein allosteric interactions such as those occurring, for example, in receptor-receptor interactions at the plasma membrane level. In addition, emerging evidence points to novel mechanisms likely playing a significant role in the modulation of intercellular connectivity, increasing the plasticity of the system and adding complexity to its structure. In particular, the roamer type of VT (i.e. the intercellular transfer of RNA, proteins and receptors by extracellular vesicles) will be discussed since it allowed us to introduce a new concept of ‘transient changes of cell phenotype’, that is the transient acquisition of new signal release capabilities and/or new recognition/decoding apparatuses.

Considerazioni sulle risultanze statistiche delle malformazioni congenite letali e no in Italia dal 1956 al 1958

1963 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-290
Author(s):  
L. Maggiore
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Congenital Malformations ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
First Year ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
First Year Of Life

SUMMARYThe statistical data on the malformation occurred in Italy from 1956 to 1958 have been examined. It has been seen that their number is almost constant (i. e. some 1,500 per year). The ratio of alive malformed to dead malformed is of 3:1, but the number of deaths by congenital malformations increases considerably during the first year of life, mostly due to inner organ malformations, non detectable at birth.50% of the cases of harelip die during the first year of life. The most serious malformations are those concerning the central nervous system, while the most common ones, are those affecting the locomotive apparatus.The number of malformations has not been influenced by the very insufficient diet during the four years of war, neither by the 1957 « asiatic influenza ». The malformation index, furthermore, appears almost constant in the time and in the various regions, showing the highest figure in Lucania and Friuli (3.05) and the lowest ones in Campania (0,89), Sicily and Liguria (1.21).

scholarly journals Neuromedin U Receptor 2-Deficient Mice Display Differential Responses in Sensory Perception, Stress, and Feeding

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (24) ◽  
pp. 9352-9363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongkui Zeng ◽  
Alexander Gragerov ◽  
John G. Hohmann ◽  
Maria N. Pavlova ◽  
Brian A. Schimpf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Dorsal Horn Neurons ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Central Pain Processing ◽  
Excessive Grooming ◽  
Deficient Mice

ABSTRACT Neuromedin U (NMU) is a highly conserved neuropeptide with a variety of physiological functions mediated by two receptors, peripheral NMUR1 and central nervous system NMUR2. Here we report the generation and phenotypic characterization of mice deficient in the central nervous system receptor NMUR2. We show that behavioral effects, such as suppression of food intake, enhanced pain response, and excessive grooming induced by intracerebroventricular NMU administration were abolished in the NMUR2 knockout (KO) mice, establishing a causal role for NMUR2 in mediating NMU's central effects on these behaviors. In contrast to the NMU peptide-deficient mice, NMUR2 KO mice appeared normal with regard to stress, anxiety, body weight regulation, and food consumption. However, the NMUR2 KO mice showed reduced pain sensitivity in both the hot plate and formalin tests. Furthermore, facilitated excitatory synaptic transmission in spinal dorsal horn neurons, a mechanism by which NMU stimulates pain, did not occur in NMUR2 KO mice. These results provide significant insights into a functional dissection of the differential contribution of peripherally or centrally acting NMU system. They suggest that NMUR2 plays a more significant role in central pain processing than other brain functions including stress/anxiety and regulation of feeding.

scholarly journals The role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 ◽  
pp. 865-886
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Szewczyk ◽  
Apolonia Witecka ◽  
Anna Kiersztan
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Nervous System Diseases ◽  
Central Nervous System Diseases ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Number Of Microorganisms ◽  
The Central Nervous System

According to current knowledge, the number of microorganisms living in our body slightly exceeds the number of our own cells, and most of them occupy the large intestine. New methods for analyzing microorganisms residing in our intestine (intestinal microbiota) enable a better understanding of their metabolic, protective and structural functions as well as complex interactions with the host. The development of microbiota is dynamic, and its composition may change during our lifetime. Many factors can affect the composition of microbiota, such as diet, stress, age, genetic factors and antibiotic therapy. Microbiota-gut-brain communication is bi-directional and is mediated via neuronal, immunological and humoral pathways. This article focuses on gut-brain axis elements, such as the vagus nerve, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), cytokines, neurotransmitters, hormones and intestinal peptides, allowing microbiota to contact with the central nervous system. Moreover, this article shows the mechanisms by which microbiota affects the brain functions related to our behavior, mood and cognitive processes. In addition, the role of microbiota composition disorders in the pathogenesis of central nervous system diseases (such as depression, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease) is discussed. This article also focuses on the results from studies in which probiotics have been used as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and also alleviating the symptoms of the central nervous system diseases.

scholarly journals From Systemic Inflammation to Neuroinflammation: The Case of Neurolupus

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 3588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mykolas Bendorius ◽  
Chrystelle Po ◽  
Sylviane Muller ◽  
Hélène Jeltsch-David
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Systemic Inflammation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Murine Models ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Central Nervous System

It took decades to arrive at the general consensus dismissing the notion that the immune system is independent of the central nervous system. In the case of uncontrolled systemic inflammation, the relationship between the two systems is thrown off balance and results in cognitive and emotional impairment. It is specifically true for autoimmune pathologies where the central nervous system is affected as a result of systemic inflammation. Along with boosting circulating cytokine levels, systemic inflammation can lead to aberrant brain-resident immune cell activation, leakage of the blood–brain barrier, and the production of circulating antibodies that cross-react with brain antigens. One of the most disabling autoimmune pathologies known to have an effect on the central nervous system secondary to the systemic disease is systemic lupus erythematosus. Its neuropsychiatric expression has been extensively studied in lupus-like disease murine models that develop an autoimmunity-associated behavioral syndrome. These models are very useful for studying how the peripheral immune system and systemic inflammation can influence brain functions. In this review, we summarize the experimental data reported on murine models developing autoimmune diseases and systemic inflammation, and we explore the underlying mechanisms explaining how systemic inflammation can result in behavioral deficits, with a special focus on in vivo neuroimaging techniques.

scholarly journals γ–Secretase controls the specification of astrocytes from oligodendrocyte precursor cells via Stat3

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinxing Hou ◽  
Huiru Bi ◽  
Gang Zou ◽  
Zhuoyang Ye ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Postnatal Development ◽  
Precursor Cells ◽  
Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ◽  
Signal Transducer ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Mechanistic Analysis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Oligodendrocyte Precursor

AbstractOligodendrocytes (OLs) and astrocytes play critical roles in a variety of brain functions. OL precursor cells (OPCs) are known to give rise to OLs as well as astrocytes. However, little is known about the mechanism by which OPCs determine their specification choice for OLs versus astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). Here we show that genetic inhibition of γ-secretase in OPCs reduces OL differentiation but enhances astrocyte specification. Mechanistic analysis reveals that inhibition of γ-secretase results in decreased levels of Hes1, and that Hes1 down-regulates the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (Stat3) via binding to specific regions of its promoter. We demonstrate that conditional inactivation of Stat3 in OL lineages restores the number of astrocytes in γ-secretase mutant mice. In summary, this study identifies a key mechanism which controls OPC’s specification choice for OL versus astrocyte during postnatal development. This γ-secretase-dependent machinery may be essential for the CNS to maintain the population balance between OLs and astrocytes.

The gut-brain axis: microglia in the spotlight

Neuroforum ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Mezö ◽  
Omar Mossad ◽  
Daniel Erny ◽  
Thomas Blank
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
The Brain

Summary Microbiome research has grown significantly in the last decade, highlighting manifold implications of the microbiota to the host’s health. The gut microbiota is connected to the brain through several avenues that allow their interaction. Thus, recent studies have attemtpted to characterize these connections and enhance our understanding of the so called ‘gut-brain-axis’. Microglia, the central nervous system resident macrophages, are crucial for the proper development and maintenance of brain functions. As immune cells, they are in the spotlight for relaying signals between the microbiota and cells of the brain. In this review, we contemplate on interactions between the gut microbiota and microglia, and their influence on brain functions in health and disease.

scholarly journals In memory of Academician Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (on the 170th anniversary of his birth)

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-279
Author(s):  
V Ya Apchel ◽  
T Sh Morgoshiia
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Natural Science ◽  
Nervous Activity ◽  
Chronic Experiment ◽  
Secretory Process ◽  
Natural Scientist ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Higher Nervous Activity ◽  
The Central Nervous System

The main years of the life and scientific creativity of I.P. Pavlova. Illuminated little-known facts from the life of a scientist. It is noted that IP Pavlov is one of the most prominent representatives of modern natural science, the creator of the materialistic theory of higher nervous activity of humans and animals, the founder of the largest physiological school of modernity and new approaches and methods of research in physiology. Pavlov I.P, studied many topical problems of physiology and medicine, but his most systematic and thorough research relates to the physiology of the circulatory and digestive systems, as well as the higher parts of the central nervous system: they are rightfully considered classic, which opened new pages in the relevant sections of physiology and medicine. New and valuable were the results of his research also on individual issues of the physiology of the endocrine system, comparative physiology, physiology of labor and pharmacology. Being deeply convinced that “for a natural scientist, everything is in a method,” IP Pavlov elaborated and introduced the practice of physiological research into the method of a chronic experiment, based on the need for a multilateral and detailed study of the body’s functions in natural conditions, in inseparable communication and interaction with the environment. This method brought the physiology out of the impasse created by a one-sided, analytical method of acute vivisection experiment that prevailed for a long time. Used in the early works of Pavlov on the physiology of blood circulation, the method of chronic experiment was elevated to the rank of a new scientific experimental principle in basic research on the physiology of digestion and then perfected when studying the functions of the higher parts of the central nervous system. Pavlov I.P comprehensively researched and studied the dynamics of the secretory process of the gastric and salivary glands, pancreatic glands, the work of the liver in the use of food of different quality, proved their ability to adapt to the nature of the causative agents of secretion. Created by Pavlov’s theory of higher nervous activity is one of the greatest achievements of natural science in the 20th century. It is a system of the most reliable, complete, accurate and deep knowledge of brain functions and is of great practical importance for medicine, psychology, pedagogy, and scientific organization of complex labor processes.

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