Chawla Monica K, Barnes Carol A
Arizona Research Laboratories Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
Prog Brain Res. 2007;163:661-78. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(07)63036-2.
Normal aging, in the absence of neurodegenerative disease, can provide important insights into the mechanisms by which the brain can maintain cognitive abilities across the lifespan. Hippocampal-dependent memory processes can become vulnerable as age advances. The focus of this chapter is the contribution of hippocampal granule cells to cognitive impairments that are observed during aging. A number of alterations in structure, function, and gene expression have been observed in aged granule cells, any of which may lead to adaptive, compensatory or detrimental consequences to hippocampal function. As the average life span of humans continues to increase, those who reach 100 years or beyond is more common. Individuals that have aged successfully, and exhibit high levels of cognitive ability can provide useful clues into the enormous potential possessed by the mammalian brain.
在没有神经退行性疾病的情况下，正常衰老能为大脑在整个生命周期中维持认知能力的机制提供重要见解。随着年龄增长，依赖海马体的记忆过程会变得脆弱。本章的重点是海马体颗粒细胞对衰老过程中出现的认知障碍的影响。在老年颗粒细胞中已观察到结构、功能和基因表达的一些变化，其中任何一种变化都可能对海马体功能产生适应性、补偿性或有害性后果。随着人类平均寿命的持续延长，活到100岁及以上的人越来越普遍。成功衰老且表现出高水平认知能力的个体能为哺乳动物大脑所拥有的巨大潜力提供有用线索。
