title: Impairments of synaptic plasticity in aged animals and in animal models of Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Aging is associated with a gradual decline in cognitive functions, and more dramatic cognitive impairments occur in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Electrophysiological and molecular studies performed in aged animals and in animal models of AD have shown that cognitive decline is associated with significant modifications in synaptic plasticity (i.e., activity-dependent changes in synaptic strength) and have elucidated some of the cellular mechanisms underlying this process. Morphological studies have revealed a correlation between the quality of memory performance and the extent of structural changes of synaptic contacts occurring during memory consolidation. We briefly review recent experimental evidence here.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology of Aging Laboratory, INRCA Scientific Technological Area, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balietti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tamagnini
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fattoretti
authors.forename: Costanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burattini
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Casoli
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Platano
authors.forename: Fabrizia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lattanzio
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aicardi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000378:metabolism; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression; D008568:Memory; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020813:Receptor, trkB