The circadian rhythms of the brain change with age. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

The circadian rhythms of the brain change with age

03.01.2016

Many molecular and cellular processes, biochemical reactions are subject to biological clocks, of which the most famous are circadian, or daily. Day and night follow each other in a 24-hour cycle, and many living beings have adapted to this state of affairs. How they work, we all know well: in the morning we wake up, and in the evening we fall asleep - this is the most obvious manifestation of circadian rhythms. Similar things happen with other higher functions of the brain, and with the hormonal system, and with the digestive, and with metabolism, etc. It is believed that all cells and organs have their own biological clocks, which have a certain independence, but they all somehow check their work with the clock in the brain.

However, like other body systems, the biological clock changes over time, that is, in other words, it gets old. For example, with age, a person begins to sleep less, begins to wake up earlier in the morning, and his body temperature, which also obeys daily rhythms, no longer changes day and night as much as in youth. Obviously, some age-related changes relate to genes that control the biological clock, but what these changes are, what exactly happens to circadian genes - especially those that work in the brain - is still little known.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh compared brain samples from nearly 40 people who were either no older than 60 or older than 245. Samples were taken only from those who knew the time of death and who did not have neuropsychiatric diseases - neither themselves, nor family members. Neuroscientists were interested in changes in the activity of genes operating in the prefrontal cortex (which is known to be responsible for higher cognitive functions) and showing diurnal changes in activity. There were as many as XNUMX of them; by correlating the level of RNA read from a particular gene, or the protein that it encodes, with the time of death, it was possible to determine its activity, and then, by comparing samples from people of different ages, it was possible to understand how the activity of this gene changed with age.

In younger people, all the classic circadian genes worked with a well-defined rhythm, but over time, in many of them, the rhythm smoothed out, that is, at different times of the day they began to work the same way. But at the same time, in the functioning of some genes that previously did not depend on the time of day, daily changes suddenly appeared. In other words, it is not worth saying that the genetic activity in the brain changes only in one direction, that all diurnal-cyclic genes gradually lose their cyclicity - the real picture is actually more complicated.

Of course, it could be assumed that sleep problems, and bouts of bad mood, and rapid fatigue from mental work in older people are associated with a misregulated system of circadian rhythms, and that it all comes down to age-related changes in the activity of certain genes. However, it would be nice to know what these genes are and what exactly happens to them, and an important step here, as we see, has already been made. Perhaps in the future it will be possible to extend the healthy life of the brain to the deepest old age, simply by restoring the correct functioning of its biological clock.

<< Back: Portable charger for electric vehicles 03.01.2016

>> Forward: Apacer AH650 Flash Drive with Capacitive Fingerprint Sensor 02.01.2016

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Wine in tablets 04.06.2004

Medical statistics show that in countries with a traditionally high consumption of dry red wine, the level of cardiovascular diseases is reduced. But, judging by the fact that the consumption of vodka does not save from these diseases, the point here is not in the alcohol itself, but in the accompanying substances of red wine.

Employees of the Pharmaceutical Institute in Pavia (Italy) have developed a preparation containing all the useful components of wine. Tablets are made from the liquid mass that remains after alcohol is distilled from the wine must to produce strong drinks such as cognac.

Sugar and some amino acids are added to the mass. The mixture is filtered and then dried under vacuum. Tablets are pressed from the resulting powder, each of which is equivalent to a glass of red wine in terms of preventive action.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews