title: 'Tagging' along memories in aging: Synaptic tagging and capture mechanisms in the aged hippocampus.
abstract: Aging is accompanied by a general decline in the physiological functions of the body with the deteriorating organ systems. Brain is no exception to this and deficits in cognitive functions are quite common in advanced aging. Though a variety of age-related alterations are observed in the structure and function throughout the brain, certain regions show selective vulnerability. Medial temporal lobe, especially the hippocampus, is one such preferentially vulnerable region and is a crucial structure involved in the learning and long-term memory functions. Hippocampal synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), are candidate cellular correlates of learning and memory and alterations in these properties have been well documented in aging. A related phenomenon called synaptic tagging and capture (STC) has been proposed as a mechanism for cellular memory consolidation and to account for temporal association of memories. Mounting evidences from behavioral settings suggest that STC could be a physiological phenomenon. In this article, we review the recent data concerning STC and provide a framework for how alterations in STC-related mechanisms could contribute to the age-associated memory impairments. The enormity of impairment in learning and memory functions demands an understanding of age-associated memory deficits at the fundamental level given its impact in the everyday tasks, thereby in the quality of life. Such an understanding is also crucial for designing interventions and preventive measures for successful brain aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Blk MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; Life Sciences Institute, Neurobiology/Aging Program, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shivarama Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Blk MD9, 2 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore; Life Sciences Institute, Neurobiology/Aging Program, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore. Electronic address: phssks@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Sreedharan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sajikumar
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Aging; Hippocampus; Memory deficits; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptic tagging