Reversing a persistent “nighttime state” that limits memory in aging mice
Aging is accompanied by impairments in both memory and circadian rhythmicity, but it is unclear how these age-related deficits are related. Dr. Kwapis’ lab recently found that age-related dysregulation of a key circadian gene (Period1) across the brain could underlie impairments in both of these processes. Although the role of Period1 in the circadian clock is well-understood, how this same gene supports memory is currently unclear. One compelling idea is that Period1 oscillates in memory-relevant brain regions (like the hippocampus) to control the proportion of neurons available to encode and store memory across the day/night cycle. In this proposal, Dr. Kwapis will test the idea that age-related repression of Period1 in the hippocampus mimics a persistent “nighttime state” that limits the proportion of neurons available for memory across the 24h day. This project will therefore determine how aging impacts the molecular interface that connects circadian rhythms to memory.
