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Novel putative mechanisms to link circadian clocks to healthy aging

  • Psychiatry and Preclinical Psychiatric Studies - Review article
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Abstract

The circadian clock coordinates the internal physiology to increase the homeostatic capacity thereby providing both a survival advantage to the system and an optimization of energy budgeting. Multiple-oscillator circadian mechanisms are likely to play a role in regulating human health and may contribute to the aging process. Our aim is to give an overview of how the central clock in the hypothalamus and peripheral clocks relate to aging and metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. In particular, we unravel novel putative mechanisms to link circadian clocks to healthy aging. This review may lead to the design of large-scale interventions to help people stay healthy as they age by adjusting daily activities, such as feeding behavior, and or adaptation to age-related changes in individual circadian rhythms.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by UEFISCDI, PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0848 and UEFISCDI FLARE2 (to A.M.B.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Rostock Medical School, Rostock, Germany

    Aurel Popa-Wagner & Ana-Maria Buga

  2. Center of Clinical and Experimental Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Craiova, Romania

    Aurel Popa-Wagner, Bogdan Catalin & Ana-Maria Buga

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  1. Aurel Popa-Wagner
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  2. Bogdan Catalin
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Correspondence to Aurel Popa-Wagner.

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Popa-Wagner, A., Catalin, B. & Buga, AM. Novel putative mechanisms to link circadian clocks to healthy aging. J Neural Transm 122 (Suppl 1), 75–82 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-013-1128-4

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