Suprachiasmatic neuron numbers and rest-activity circadian rhythms in older humans.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, the master mammalian circadian pacemaker, synchronizes endogenous rhythms with the external day-night cycle. Older humans, particularly those with Alzheimer disease (AD), often have difficulty maintaining normal circadian rhythms compared to younger adults, but the basis of this change is unknown. We report that the circadian rhythm amplitude of motor activity in both AD subjects and age-matched controls is correlated with the number of vasoactive intestinal peptide-expressing SCN neurons. AD was additionally associated with delayed circadian phase compared to cognitively healthy subjects, suggesting distinct pathologies and strategies for treating aging- and AD-related circadian disturbances.
Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Joshua L
JL
Wang
Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Andrew S
AS
Lim
Medical Biodynamics Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan.
Wei-Yin
WY
Chiang
Medical Biodynamics Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan.
Wan-Hsin
WH
Hsieh
Medical Biodynamics Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan.
Men-Tzung
MT
Lo
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
Julie A
JA
Schneider
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
Aron S
AS
Buchman
Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
David A
DA
Bennett
Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Medical Biodynamics Program, Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.|Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Chungli, Taiwan.
Kun
K
Hu
Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Clifford B
CB
Saper
D056044:Actigraphy; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide