Study on mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage and apoptosis in aging

The impairment of cognitive and higher functions of brain during aging and association of several neurodegenerative disorders with brain aging, are increasingly becoming a huge socio-economic problem in most of the developed countries as well as some of the third world countries including India, owing to a steady increase in the proportion of aged population in the society. Aging of brain is associated with morphological, biochemical and functional impairment which includes region specific neuronal loss, loss of synaptic connectivity, glial changes, accumulation of lipofuschin pigments and other oxidatively damaged products of lipid, protein and DNA. Over-whelming evidence indicates that epigenetic factors like oxidative injury play a central role in the phenomenon of aging. The present study has attempted to contribute to this important area of brain aging research. The results of this study will be important in evaluating possible dietary and therapeutic procsee in retarding age-related brain deficits.