NEUROSTEROIDS & AGEING: The role of neurosteroids in healthy ageing : therapeutical perspectives

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 00.0407

Key words (English)

Neurosteroids; myelin; gene regulation; Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Social Aspects

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLK6-2000-00179

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.6 The ageing population and disabilities

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: National Institut de la Sante et de la Recherche (F)

Abstract (English)

Extensive death of nerve cells may no longer be considered as a major event in t he process of normal ageing of the nervous system (except in pathological conditions). In addition, the ageing brain and nerves retain sufficient plasticity for regeneration. This means that treating normal age-related dysfunctions of the nervous system, such as memory loss, will become possible. Indeed, research carried out in the laboratories of the partners has shown that age-related memory deficits and abnormalities of myelin sheaths (which isolate nerve fibres) can be reversed by the administration of neurosteroids (steroids which can be locally synthesised in the nervous system).

Two complementary therapeutic strategies will be explored:
1) Increasing the local synthesis of neurosteroids by agonists of the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor;
2) administering selective neurosteroid compounds.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 00.0407