Cellular calcium signaling in the aging brain

Abstract

Aging in the biological system is an irreversible process. In the initial stages of lifespan aging improves survival skills of an organism while in the later stages aging reduce the survival skills. Aging is associated with changes in several cellular and molecular functions among which calcium signaling is a prominent one. Calcium signaling is essential for many vital functions of the brain and even minor impairments in calcium signaling can lead to deleterious consequences including neuronal death. Calcium signaling proteins are pursued as promising drug targets for many aging related diseases. This review attempts to summarize changes in calcium signaling in the brain as a result of aging.

Keywords: Aging; Aging associated neurodegenerative disease; Calcium channels; Calcium signaling; Excitotoxicity; Neuronal calcium homeostasis; Oxidative stress.