Brain during aging

Domek-Lopacinska K, Strosznajder JB (2008) The effect of selective inhibition of cyclic GMP hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases 2 and 5 on learning and memory processes and nitric oxide synthase activity in brain during aging. Brain Res 1216 68-77... 

Soderberg M, Edlund C, Kristensson K, DaUner G. Lipid compositions of different regions of the human brain during aging. / Neurochem. 1990 54(2) 415-423. 

Adenosine A-l receptor density was examined in rat brain by means of quantitative autoradiography to obtain a detailed anatomical overview of the changes during ageing (Murillo-Rodriguez et al. 2004). A-l receptor binding was assessed in young, old, and senescent animals of 3, 24, and 30 months old, respectively. 

Surgeons are concerned with brain blood flow to patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. An intensive study by Chow et al. was conducted where blood flows were restricted to patients from age 2 weeks to over 20 years [48]. Near-IR was used to correlate blood flow rate with NIR spectra of the brain. Flows of 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 L/mVmin-1 were used. Their results showed that flow was related to mean arterial pressure, but did not correspond to pulsatility. This was interesting in that pulse rate is often used as a diagnostic to assure sufficient blood flow to the brain during surgery. 

It s estimated that each cortical neuron has an average of 10,000 synapses with other neurons near and far. But these connections do not develop all at once. They are formed in the brain during fetal development, infancy, childhood, and even adulthood. The simple fact that the gross anatomy of a child s nervous system is not completely developed until about n or 12 years of age is another refutation of the idea that neurological wiring is complete at birth and therefore uninfluenced by environment. 

Wu, Y. J., Harp, P, Yan, X. R-, and Pope, C. N. (2003). Nicotinic autureceptor function in rat brain during maturation and aging Possible differential sen-sitivity to organophosphate anti-cholincstera.ses. Chem.-Biol Intelact. 142,255-268. 

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