Active Diabetes, Hormones & Metabolism NIHR-supported project Genetics & Molecular Biology

CirdcadiAgeing

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

A biological clock that weakens with age may be reset by targeting the electrical activity of brain cells. The 'CircadiAgeing' project investigates why daily rhythms in cell excitability break down as people grow older, and whether restoring them could slow age-related health decline. Circadian rhythms govern sleep, metabolism, and many other bodily processes, but their molecular and membrane-based mechanisms are not fully understood. This research combines genetic analysis and computational biology to identify ways to make the body's internal clock more robust. If successful, the work could lead to interventions that promote healthier ageing by maintaining the timing systems that keep cells functioning properly. The project is primarily fundamental science, exploring how daily changes in cell excitability are generated and why they falter. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms may eventually inform approaches to mitigate age-related disorders, though no immediate clinical application is promised.

View original technical description
?The 'CircadiAgeing' project, led by James Hodge at the University of Bristol, investigates the impact of circadian rhythm disruptions on ageing and associated health issues. Supported by a £20 million investment from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), this research focuses on both molecular and membrane-based mechanisms underlying daily changes in cell excitability. The interdisciplinary team employs advanced genetic analysis and computational biology to identify interventions aimed at restoring the robustness of biological clocks, thereby promoting healthier ageing and potentially mitigating age-related disorders.

Researchers

Krasi Tsaneva (Principal Investigator)

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Original classification

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