Finding could explain age-related decline in motor function

Finding could explain age-related decline in motor function
Ben Eaton, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology, and Rebekah Mahoney, graduate student, both from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, recorded changes in the neuromuscular junction synapses of aging fruit flies. "We observed a change in the synapse, indicating that the homeostatic mechanism had adjusted to maintain a new set point in the older animal," Mahoney said. Credit: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Scientists from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have found a clue as to why muscles weaken with age. In a study published Feb. 5 in The Journal of Neuroscience, they report the first evidence that "set points" in the nervous system are not inalterably determined during development but instead can be reset with age. They observed a change in set point that resulted in significantly diminished motor function in aging fruit flies.

"The body has a set point for temperature (98.6 degrees), a set point for salt level in the blood, and other homeostatic (steady-state) set points that are important for maintaining stable functions throughout life," said study senior author Ben Eaton, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology at the Health Science Center. "Evidence also points to the existence of set points in the , but it has never been observed that they change, until now."

A new set point in older flies

Dr. Eaton and lead author Rebekah Mahoney, a graduate student, recorded changes in the neuromuscular junction synapses of aging . These synapses are spaces where neurons exchange electrical signals to enable motor functions such as walking and smiling. "We observed a change in the synapse, indicating that the homeostatic mechanism had adjusted to maintain a new set point in the older animal," Mahoney said.

The change was nearly 200 percent, and the researchers predicted that it would leave muscles more vulnerable to exhaustion.

Potential risk of neurodegeneration

Aside from impairing movement in aging animals, a new functional set point in could put the synapse at risk for developing neurodegeneration—the hallmark of disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, Mahoney said.

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recorded changes in the neuromuscular junction synapses of aging fruit flies. These synapses are spaces where neurons exchange electrical signals to enable motor functions such as walking and smiling. "We observed a change in the synapse, indicating that the homeostatic mechanism had adjusted to maintain a new set point in the older animal," lead author Rebekah Mahoney said. The change was nearly 200 percent, and the researchers predicted that it would leave muscles more vulnerable to exhaustion. Videos obtained from the researchers show young and old fruit flies. One video is of a seven-day-old female and the other is of a 42-day-old female. These videos show the differences in motor function. The activity of the legs is significantly diminished in the older fly as is the extension of the proboscis, the body part that is used to suck up food and water. Credit: Eaton laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

"Observing a change in the set point in synapses alters our paradigms about how we think age affects the function of the nervous system," she said.

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio recorded changes in the neuromuscular junction synapses of aging fruit flies. These synapses are spaces where neurons exchange electrical signals to enable motor functions such as walking and smiling. "We observed a change in the synapse, indicating that the homeostatic mechanism had adjusted to maintain a new set point in the older animal," lead author Rebekah Mahoney said. The change was nearly 200 percent, and the researchers predicted that it would leave muscles more vulnerable to exhaustion. Videos obtained from the researchers show young and old fruit flies. One video is of a seven-day-old female and the other is of a 42-day-old female. These videos show the differences in motor function. The activity of the legs is significantly diminished in the older fly as is the extension of the proboscis, the body part that is used to suck up food and water. Credit: Eaton laboratory at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

It appears that a similar change could lead to effects on learning and memory in old age. An understanding of this phenomenon would be invaluable and could lead to development of novel therapies for those issues, as well.

Journal information: Journal of Neuroscience
Citation: Finding could explain age-related decline in motor function (2014, February 7) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-02-age-related-decline-motor-function.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Researchers see low-calorie diet's effects in fly brain, mouthpart

 shares

Feedback to editors