# Effects of Aging on Blood Vessels in the Cerebellar Vermis

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR · 2020 · $185,954

## Abstract

Abstract
Aging is a fundamental biological process accompanied by a general decline in tissue function and
increased risk for many diseases. Indeed, decline in fine motor control, gait and balance is among the
most important health problems in the elderly. Although the mechanism underlying cerebellar
dysfunction is unclear, compelling evidence indicate that when the cerebellum ages, it starts to shrink
in volume as a whole in the mid-fifties of humans. Looking particularly at the lobules as a whole, the
anterior lobules (vermis) that control bodily posture and locomotion are most significantly affected by
aging, but not the lateral portions of the cerebellum. It is well-known that aging-related structural and
functional disturbances in the macro- or microcirculation of the brain lead to brain degeneration and
dysfunction. However, whether aging impairs vascular structure and function of cerebellum is largely
unknown. Our preliminary study showed that the number and volume of blood vessels were selectively
reduced in vermis of cerebellum in aged mice, along with increased glutathione redox state, but the
hippocampus was not affected. Thus, our central hypothesis is that: aging selectively impairs the
vascular structure and function in vermis of cerebellum, which, in turn, increase oxidative damage in
these regions, leading to neuronal dysfunction or loss and motor deficits. Our SPECIFIC AIM is to (1)
determine whether aging selectively impairs vascular structure and function in the vermis of cerebellum,
compared to other cerebellar and cerebral regions. (2) Determine whether aging increases oxidative
stress and neurodegeneration in the vermis of cerebellum, compared to other cerebellar and cerebral
regions. (3) Explore whether improved cerebral blood flow via increase of endothelial NAD+-SIRT1
activity reduces oxidative stress and attenuates neurodegeneration in the vermis of cerebellum and
improve age-related cerebellar motor dysfunction. The rationale for the proposed research is that
successful completion of the proposed experiments will provide missing, fundamental knowledge
regarding the impact of the aging on vessel structure and function, and potential mechanisms underlying
motor dysfunction in elderly.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9895600
- **Project number:** 5R21AG060306-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Kunlin Jin
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $185,954
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9895600

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9895600, Effects of Aging on Blood Vessels in the Cerebellar Vermis (5R21AG060306-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9895600. Licensed CC0.

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