title: Susceptibility to Calcium Dysregulation during Brain Aging.
abstract: Calcium (Ca(2+)) is a highly versatile intracellular signaling molecule that is essential for regulating a variety of cellular and physiological processes ranging from fertilization to programmed cell death. Research has provided ample evidence that brain aging is associated with altered Ca(2+) homeostasis. Much of the work has focused on the hippocampus, a brain region critically involved in learning and memory, which is particularly susceptible to dysfunction during senescence. The current review takes a broader perspective, assessing age-related changes in Ca(2+) sources, Ca(2+) sequestration, and Ca(2+) binding proteins throughout the nervous system. The nature of altered Ca(2+) homeostasis is cell specific and may represent a deficit or a compensatory mechanism, producing complex patterns of impaired cellular function. Incorporating the knowledge of the complexity of age-related alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis will positively shape the development of highly effective therapeutics to treat brain disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodhinathan
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Foster