title: Calcium and the aging nervous system.
abstract: Many aspects of calcium homeostasis change with aging. Numerous calcium compartments complicate studies of altered calcium regulation. However, age-related decreases in calcium permeation across membranes and mobilization from organelles may be a common fundamental change. Deficits in ion movements appear to lead to altered coupling of calcium-dependent biochemical and neurophysiological processes and may lead to pathological and behavioral changes. The calcium-associated changes during aging probably do not occur with equal intensity in all cell types or in different parts of the same cell. Thus, cells or compartments with a high proportion of calcium activated processes would be more sensitive to diminished calcium availability. These age-related changes may predispose the brain to the development of age-related neurological disorders. The effects of decreased ion movement may be further aggravated by an age-related decline in other calcium-dependent processes. Depression of some of these calcium-dependent functions appears physiologically significant, since increasing calcium availability ameliorates age-related deficits in neurotransmission and behavior. A better understanding of the interactions between calcium homeostasis and calcium-dependent processes during aging will likely help in the design of more effective therapeutic strategies.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002128:Calcium Metabolism Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium