Molecular Aspects Of Development And Aging Of The Nervous System

The rapidly expanding fields of molecular and cellular neurobiology are the newest frontiers of neuroscience. This book represents the continuing efforts of the Institute of Developmental Neuroscience and Aging (IDNA) to disseminate the most recent advances on the developing and aging nervous system at the molecular and cellular levels. A group of neuroscientists presented and discussed their findings at a recent IDNA conference held in Athens, Greece, June 15-18, 1988. This meeting was sponsored by the National Hellenic Research Foundation, FIDIA, the Ministry of Research and Technology, the Tourism Organization of Greece, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH. The Directors of the IDNA are grateful to the local committee, Drs. Eleni Fleischer, Costas Sekeris, Michael Alexis, Theony Valcana, and Elias Kouvelas, for their efforts in organizing this meeting and for their successful integration of science and culture for the participants. This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the information presented at this conference, including in-depth discussions of each topic by the participants. The chapters are grouped into five general categories which correspond to the subject areas covered during the meeting. These include: Gene and Phenotypic Expression, Growth Factors and Oncogenes, Cytoskeletal and Extracellular Molecules, Neurotransmitters and Hormones, and Molecular Aspects of Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. The section on Gene and Phenotypic Expression includes discussions of transient gene expression in the nervous system (Herschman), developmental regulation of myelin-associated genes (Gordon et al.

The nervous system is highly fragile, especially during aging, illness and trauma. This book addresses a small sampling of major constituents of neural function at the cellular and molecular level that play crucial roles in development and aging.

The brain ... There is no other part of the human anatomy that is so intriguing. How does it develop and function and why does it sometimes, tragically, degenerate? The answers are complex. In Discovering the Brain, science writer Sandra Ackerman cuts through the complexity to bring this vital topic to the public. The 1990s were declared the "Decade of the Brain" by former President Bush, and the neuroscience community responded with a host of new investigations and conferences. Discovering the Brain is based on the Institute of Medicine conference, Decade of the Brain: Frontiers in Neuroscience and Brain Research. Discovering the Brain is a "field guide" to the brainâ€"an easy-to-read discussion of the brain's physical structure and where functions such as language and music appreciation lie. Ackerman examines: How electrical and chemical signals are conveyed in the brain. The mechanisms by which we see, hear, think, and pay attentionâ€"and how a "gut feeling" actually originates in the brain. Learning and memory retention, including parallels to computer memory and what they might tell us about our own mental capacity. Development of the brain throughout the life span, with a look at the aging brain. Ackerman provides an enlightening chapter on the connection between the brain's physical condition and various mental disorders and notes what progress can realistically be made toward the prevention and treatment of stroke and other ailments. Finally, she explores the potential for major advances during the "Decade of the Brain," with a look at medical imaging techniquesâ€"what various technologies can and cannot tell usâ€"and how the public and private sectors can contribute to continued advances in neuroscience. This highly readable volume will provide the public and policymakersâ€"and many scientists as wellâ€"with a helpful guide to understanding the many discoveries that are sure to be announced throughout the "Decade of the Brain."

The nervous system is a highly complex network of nerves that coordinates actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from various parts of the body. Random molecular damage that steadily accumulates with age drives the ageing process at the cellular level. Many molecular mechanisms are involved and exogenous factors, like stress, also play a role in the aging process. The nervous system at the cellular level comprises a special cell called a neuron, which transmits signals to the other cells. Many physical, chemical, or biological changes in the status of neurons characterize brain aging. It is manifested in the form of deterioration in cognitive function and dementia. Dendritic regression in pyramidal neurons, synaptic atrophy, decrease of striatal dopamine receptors, accumulation of fluorescent pigments, cytoskeletal abnormalities, and reactive astrocytes and microglia are the common features of brain aging. The consequence of molecular and cellular alterations in brain aging is characterized by a plethora of anatomical changes, such as significant neuronal loss in hippocampus and neocortex. This book provides comprehensive insights on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of aging. The readers would gain knowledge that would broaden their perspective about this area of study.

Basic Neurochemistry: Principles of Molecular, Cellular, and Medical Neurobiology, the outstanding and comprehensive classic text on neurochemistry, is now newly updated and revised in its Eighth Edition. For more than forty years, this text has been the worldwide standard for information on the biochemistry of the nervous system, serving as a resource for postgraduate trainees and teachers in neurology, psychiatry, and basic neuroscience, as well as for medical, graduate, and postgraduate students and instructors in the neurosciences. The text has evolved, as intended, with the science. It is also an excellent source of current information on basic biochemical and cellular processes in brain function and neurological diseases for continuing medical education and qualifying examinations. This text continues to be the standard reference and textbook for exploring the translational nature of neuroscience, bringing basic and clinical neuroscience together in one authoritative volume. Our book title reflects the expanded attention to these links between neurochemistry and neurologic disease. This new edition continues to cover the basics of neurochemistry as in the earlier editions, along with expanded and additional coverage of new research from: Intracellular trafficking; Stem cells, adult neurogenesis, regeneration; Lipid messengers; Expanded coverage of all major neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders; Neurochemistry of addiction; Neurochemistry of pain; Neurochemistry of hearing and balance; Neurobiology of learning and memory; Sleep; Myelin structure, development, and disease; Autism; and Neuroimmunology. Completely updated text with new authors and material, and many entirely new chapters Over 400 fully revised figures in splendid color 61 chapters covering the range of cellular, molecular and medical neuroscience Translational science boxes emphasizing the connections between basic and clinical neuroscience Companion website at http://elsevierdirect.com/companions/9780123749475