neurobiology of aging

ABSTRACT

This review describes briefly some of the age-associated changes in neural function. A decrease in the activity of neurotransmission system has been observed during normal aging. The aged brain is characterized by neuronal loss and atrophy, and the presence of amyloidal plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Calcium dishomeotasis and changes in signal transduction, changes in growth factor response and changes in oxidative metabolism are altered with aging. The cholinergic system shows the most important alteration and this is possibly associated with age-related neurodegenerative disease. These changes suggest a strong correlation between normal and pathological aging