Seminar: Circadian disruption in Aging and Neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuronal Mechanism for Critical Period Unit (Yazaki-Sugiyama Unit) would like to invite you to a seminar by Prof. Christopher Colwell from University of California, Los Angeles.

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Date: Friday, December 16, 2016

Time: 13:00-14:00

Venue: C016, Level C, Lab 1

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Speaker:
Prof. Christopher Colwell, University of California, Los Angeles

Title:
Circadian disruption in Aging and Neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract:
Many patients with Neurodegenerative disorders exhibit disturbances in their daily cycle of sleep and wake.  For example, Huntington’s disease (HD) is characterized as a neurological movement disorders. However, abnormal sleep/wake cycles are common among HD patients with reports of delayed sleep onset, fatigue during the day, and a delayed pattern of melatonin secretion all of which suggest circadian dysfunction. Mouse models of HD confirm disrupted circadian rhythms with pathophysiology found in the central circadian clock (suprachiasmatic nucleus).  Importantly, circadian dysfunction manifests early in disease, even before the classic motor symptoms, in both patients and mouse models. Therefore, we hypothesize that the circadian dysfunction may interact with the disease pathology and exacerbate the HD symptoms. If correct, early intervention may benefit patients and delay disease progression. One test of this hypothesis is to determine whether light therapy or feeding schedules designed to strengthen the intrinsic circadian timing system can delay the disease progression in mouse models.  I will present our recent data showing that blue-enhanced lighting or scheduled feeding improves activity rhythms as well as motor performance in mouse HD models. This is noteworthy as HD is a devastating genetic disease without a cure. The treatment strategies that prove to be effective in HD are likely to be broadly beneficial in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.

Host:
Assistant Prof. Yazaki-Sugiyama

We hope to see many of you at the seminar.