 | Phillip A. Cole, M.D., Ph.D
Rockefeller University | | Inhibition of N-acetyltransferase
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
Dr. Cole's research is devoted to evaluating the effects of melatonin on mammalian physiology. Melatonin is a hormone thought to be important in the regulation of circadian rhythm. It is taken as a medication by some travelers to prevent jet lag. Melatonin has even been speculated to be useful in preventing aging. A particular enzyme called serotonin... (more) |
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 | Todd Golde, M.D., Ph.D
Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville | | Presenilins and Gamma-Secretase Cleavage of the Amyloid Beta Protein Precursor
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
Dr. Golde compares Alzheimer's disease (AD) to atherosclerosis. Both are diseases associated with aging, both have strong genetic components, and both are diseases of deposition. Atherosclerosis involves deposition of cholesterol within blood vessels, which damages the cardiovascular system. Alzheimer's disease... (more) |
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 | Francine Grodstein, Sc.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School | | Estrogen, Antioxidants, and Cognitive Function in Women
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
In the US, 5% of women over age 60, and 28% over 85 may have dementia. While advances have been made recently to delay Alzheimer's disease progression, little population-based research is aimed at studying the earliest stages of cognitive decline in healthy elderly, a stage which might be most susceptible to intervention. Experimental studies... (more) |
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Bruce Hay, Ph.D.
California Institute of Technology | | Apoptosis
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
Apoptosis is a genetically regulated form of cell death which is critical for the normal development and adult function of multicellular organisms. Inappropriate activation of apoptosis also contributes to the neuronal cell loss associated with acute brain injuries such as stroke, and in age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Proteases play multiple roles... (more) |
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 | Elly Nedivi, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | | CPG15, A Novel Growth Promoting Molecule Involved in Synaptic Plasticity
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
The capacity of the central nervous system (CNS) to modify connectivity properties as a result of activity is termed plasticity. Plasticity is not only a prominent feature of CNS development, but in the adult brain underlies learning and memory processes and adaptive reorganization of primary sensory maps. In the cases of both... (more) |
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Hong Yan, Ph.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School | | Identification of Proteins Functionally Redundant to the Werner's Syndrome Gene Product
1998 New Scholar Award in Aging
Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with premature aging and increased risks for cancer. The gene underlining WS has been cloned and found to encode a member of the RecQ DNA helicase family. In addition to the drastic mutations found in WS patients, there are also mutations with... (more) |
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