Scholarlink

<p>Age-associated reduced motivation is a hallmark of neuropsychiatric disorders in the elderly. In our rapidly aging societies, it is critical to keep motivation levels high enough to promote healthspan and lifespan. However, how motivation is reduced during aging remains unknown. Here, we used multiple mouse models to evaluate motivation and related affective states in young and old mice. We also compared the effect of social isolation, a common stressor in aged populations, to those of aging. We found that both social isolation and aging decreased motivation in mice, but that <i>Bdnf</i> expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was selectively decreased during aging. Furthermore, VTA-specific <i>Bdnf</i> knockdown in young mice recapitulated reduced motivation observed in old mice. These results demonstrate that maintaining <i>Bdnf</i> expression in the VTA could promote motivation to engage in effortful activities and potentially prevent age-associated neuropsychiatric disorders.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Aging reduces motivation through decreased Bdnf expression in the ventral tegmental area

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月16日

查看全文
  • Hanyue Cecilia Lei,
  • Kyle E. Parker,
  • Chao-Cheng Kuo,
  • Carla M. Yuede,
  • Jordan G. McCall,
  • Shin-ichiro Imai

摘要

Age-associated reduced motivation is a hallmark of neuropsychiatric disorders in the elderly. In our rapidly aging societies, it is critical to keep motivation levels high enough to promote healthspan and lifespan. However, how motivation is reduced during aging remains unknown. Here, we used multiple mouse models to evaluate motivation and related affective states in young and old mice. We also compared the effect of social isolation, a common stressor in aged populations, to those of aging. We found that both social isolation and aging decreased motivation in mice, but that Bdnf expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was selectively decreased during aging. Furthermore, VTA-specific Bdnf knockdown in young mice recapitulated reduced motivation observed in old mice. These results demonstrate that maintaining Bdnf expression in the VTA could promote motivation to engage in effortful activities and potentially prevent age-associated neuropsychiatric disorders.