Stress is implicated in many psychological disorders, and the rate and expression of many stress-related disorders differs in women and men. Prefrontal cortex has been implicated in many stress-influenced psychological disorders. Using animal models, we have shown that stress affects prefrontal cortex differently in males versus females. Given that prefrontal cortex is an important regulator of emotional behavior, understanding the mechanisms underlying these different stress effects is key to developing appropriate treatments for stress-related disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Dr. Cara Wellman, director of the Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior will present this talk.
Huntington’s disease, a fatal neurodegenerative condition that strikes in the prime of life, is caused by a single gene defect. The mutant gene was identified in 1993 but hope for a cure was far from assured as subsequent research revealed an amazingly complex role for this gene in brain function. Now, a positive phase I clinical trial and a $45 million bet from Roche suggests a reason for optimism. And if the therapy works for HD patients could a similar approach work for other neurodegenerative conditions?