Sofie H. Lautrup: Is genomic maintenance involved in the cognitive decline observed during aging?
PhD defence, 18 September 2018, Sofie H. Lautrup.
The life expectancy of the human population is increasing, meaning that we get older and older. With increased age, follows an increased risk of obtaining various age-related diseases such as cognitive decline and dementia. During her studies, Sofie H. Lautrup, examined how the maintenance and repair mechanisms of our DNA is involved in the preservation of cognitive capacity. She used different experimental approaches including mice with reduced cognitive abilities due to loss of a central protein in brain health, the so-called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, in addition to intervention studies with mice suffering from the form of dementia called Alzheimer’s disease.
The new research findings contribute to the understanding of how DNA repair is regulated in the brain, and also how the vitamin B3 Nicotinamide Riboside, affects several features of Alzheimer’s diseases, by increasing the availability of the metabolite called NAD+.
The PhD degree was completed at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University. Part of the PhD degree was performed at National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, USA.
This résumé was prepared by the PhD student.
Afhandlingen ligger til gennemsyn hos Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, bygning 1520, lokale 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.
Time: Tuesday, 18 September 2018 at 13:30
Place: Building 1253, room 317, William Scharff Lecture Theatre, Søauditorierne, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 3, 8000 Aarhus C
Title of PhD thesis: Involvement of DNA repair in cognitive preservation during aging and disease
Contact information: Sofie H. Lautrup, e-mail: lautrup@au.dk, tel.: +45 50900938
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Marit Otterlei, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
Professor Simon Bekker-Jensen, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Associate Professor Anni Hangaard Andersen (chair), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Main supervisor:
Associate Professor Tinna V. Stevnsner, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University
Co-supervisor:
Professor Kaare Christensen, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography, University of Southern Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Science and Technology/GSST, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1520, rooms 128-134, 8000 Aarhus C.