Neurobiology of Aging and Neurodegeneration Branch

The Neurobiology of Aging and Neurodegeneration Branch fosters research aimed at understanding how the nervous system is affected by normal as well as pathological aging. Fundamental Neuroscience supports studies on age-related structural and functional changes in brain, including mechanisms of selective vulnerability and plasticity of neural cells, synapses and circuits to neurodegeneration, and the mapping of the human connectome in brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Research is supported on the role of neuroglia, oxidative stress, mitochondria, protein homeostasis, lipid signaling and metabolism, molecular damage and repair, and neural stem cells in brain aging. Basic Science of Alzheimer’s Disease supports examination of molecular, cellular, synaptic and circuitry changes, inflammatory, and cerebrovascular aspects involved in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias of aging, and neurodegenerative diseases associated with unconventional agents (e.g. prions). In Integrative Neurobiology, the focus is on neural mechanisms underlying age-related changes between organ systems and the CNS, in endocrine and immune functions, and in neurodegenerative diseases associated with infectious agents. Sleep and Biological Rhythms encompasses age-related studies of epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sleep disorders of older people; and of altered sleep-wake cycles/disordered biorhythmicity and their behavioral effects in the aged.

Bradley C. Wise, Ph.D.
Branch Chief
Email Brad Wise

Elizabeth Newman, Ph.D.
Health Specialist
Email Elizabeth Newman

Fundamental Neuroscience

Bradley C. Wise, Ph.D.
Program Director, Brain Connectivity, Neurodegeneration, Metabolism, Stem Cells
Email Brad Wise

Amanda M. DiBattista, Ph.D.
Program Director, Neuroplasticity, Glia, Lipid Neurobiology
Email Amanda DiBattista

Basic Science of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Diseases

Austin Yang, Ph.D.
Program Director, Etiology of Alzheimer’s Disease
Email Austin Yang

Miroslaw Mackiewicz, Ph.D.
Program Director, Prions
Email Miroslaw Mackiewicz

Lisa Opanashuk, Ph.D.
Program Director, Pathobiology of Alzheimer’s Disease
Email Lisa Opanashuk

Integrative Neurobiology

Miroslaw Mackiewicz, Ph.D.
Program Director, Integrative Neurobiology
Email Miroslaw Mackiewicz

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Miroslaw Mackiewicz, Ph.D.
Program Director, Sleep and Biological Rhythms
Email Miroslaw Mackiewicz