Dynamic Regulation of Autophagy during Aging in Distinct Neuronal Types
Neurons are specialized cells that that let us think, sense, calculate, communicate, and interact with the world around us. We are born with almost all the neurons we will have, and neurons need to survive and function throughout our lifetimes. Dr. Stavoe studies how neurons maintain their function during aging, particularly focusing on a cellular pathway that recycles old or damaged proteins and cellular components. Neurons especially rely on this recycling pathway, and Dr. Stavoe’s lab will study how this pathway changes during aging in different neuron types. By understanding how different kinds of neurons differentially regulate the recycling pathway, she aims to uncover new therapeutic targets to reduce age-related cognitive decline and understand why certain neuronal populations are more susceptible than others in specific age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Stavoe’s lab uses both mice and nematodes to examine this recycling pathway with high resolution microscopy in live cells and animals.
