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Publication Date

9-1-2009

Abstract

One of the major unsolved mysteries of aging two hormones thought to influence the brain’s MRI scanner reveal that older participants had is why some people age gracefully with little to no memory or cognitive dysfunction, while others are afflicted with debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. An adult brain contains about 100 billion nerve cells – neurons - that branch out and connect to more than 100 trillion points. Signals traveling through the neurons form the basis of thoughts, feelings and memories. It is these cells that are destroyed by Alzheimer’s disease, leading to tissue loss throughout the brain, affecting nearly all of its functions. Dr. Scott Moffat’s research is focused on understanding these complex elements of the mind which may one day lead to new solutions to slow or stop debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Dr. Moffat, associate professor in the Institute of Gerontology, and his research team are investigating two principal areas of research associated with aging. The first which is conducted in his Neuroscience of Aging Lab, seeks to understand the cognitive, structural and functional brain changes associated with aging. He has developed virtual reality technology that incorporates functional MRI studies to assess the behavioral and neural mechanisms of age-related decline in human spatial cognition.

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